Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” - Politics - Nairaland
Nairaland Forum › Nairaland General › Politics › Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” (646 Views)
| Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by malali(op): 6:29am On Jun 12, 2025*. Modified: 8:37am On Jun 12, 2025 |
Let me say this clearly: Nigeria is sitting on a sleeping tourism volcano, and its name is Obudu Cattle Ranch. What could have been Africa’s Switzerland, a magnetic alpine resort ten times more powerful than Ikoyi club membership status, has instead rotted into a ghost town with faded dreams and unpaid staff. Enough is enough. It’s time to forcefully reopen, privatize, and commercialize Obudu like our economy depends on it — because it actually does. From Forgotten Asset to National Cash Cow Obudu isn’t just a ranch. It’s a national altar of potential revenue: • Rolling hills like Scotland. • A cable car like the Alps. • Weather that makes Lagosians cry from joy. It should not be a memory. It should be a December destination that makes Dubai jealous. The Detty December Master Plan You want real GDP growth? Then make Obudu Nigeria’s Coachella meets Disneyland. Here’s how: 1. Afrobeats Megafest @ Obudu • Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Tems, Diamond Platnumz • 3 stages across 3 days. Coachella format. Outdoor, mountain-top stage. • Drone visuals streamed globally. 2. Influencer Takeover • Only influencers with 5 million+ followers allowed. • Pay them to stay, record, and post daily from Obudu. • Make Obudu the main character on Instagram and TikTok. 3. Ferris Wheels, Horses, Thermal Pools • Add: • A horse trail adventure • A night-lit Ferris wheel • A mini alpine spa with geothermal pools (yes, we can fake it) • Sell “All-Inclusive Obudu Passports” like Disney World wristbands 4. Luxury + Camping Hybrid • From glamping tents to 5-star chalets. • $200–$300 per night full-board packages. • Locals staff the resort, creating 5,000+ jobs. Stop Bleeding Money on Visa Fees In 2023 alone, Nigerians spent over ₦200 billion on visa fees, flights, and hotels chasing holidays in cities they don’t belong in. Redirect just 15% of that into a properly privatized Obudu mega-resort and we’ll: • Boost tourism GDP by 2-3% • Elevate local content creation • Reverse brain drain by hiring Nigerian tech, media & food startups to support the ecosystem How to Execute It: • Step 1: Auction it off. Not to politicians. To tourism-hardened private investors (with sunset clauses) • Step 2: Create a National Obudu Summit, calling all major players in entertainment, tech, hospitality • Step 3: Give full tax holidays + digital payments infrastructure • Step 4: Partner with Disney Africa, Coca-Cola, Diageo, and Guinness Live Events nlfpmod 1 Share
|
| Re: Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by Mynd44(mod): 6:51am On Jun 12, 2025 |
You really believe you can pull 45,000 people and more to a destination that is 9 hours from the airport? That is the flaw in Obudu, it is far. Too freaking far from everywhere else. |
| Re: Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by Christistruth02: 6:53am On Jun 12, 2025 |
Mynd44:Lagos to Calabar highway and Railway will open it up |
| Re: Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by owobokiri(m): 6:55am On Jun 12, 2025 |
Lol That is not happening anytime soon. Everything must be in Lagos The Lagos mafia will never allow this to happen. NEVER. Unfortunately, our South South brothers haven't got the meno yet. Look at the Super Eagles matches that are being held at the beautiful Uyo Stadium. They are already campaigning for the matches to be taken away from Uyo to Lagos! According to folks, Nigeria looses a lot of games there. But is there any place we will win all the time? Everything must be in their Lagos! Most Nigerians haven't seen the exciting terrains of the South south. The cool weather, the luscious terrain, the long white beaches, the clean environment. I have seen folks seriously surprised to know that there are beaches in the south south! That's how ignorant people are... I beleive that global entertainment events should be deliberately held in areas like Calabar, Uyoh or even Warri. The Lagos media deliberately inflame passions with all the noise about insecurity in the south south. This scares away visitors from these areas. If there are issues of insecurity, the government should provide security then. MC Oluomo and fellow touts in Lagos are biggest nuisances in this country, yet folks visit lagos.. 5 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by owobokiri(m): 7:00am On Jun 12, 2025 |
Mynd44:Problems are meant to be solved. Build a rail track through those areas. We are currently building one into Niger republic through al makura and al whatever terrorists infested territories, and you know what? The project is going on fine. When there is the will, there must be a way. Build up the infastructures around that tourism gold mine.. 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by Peakdesign23(f): 7:17am On Jun 12, 2025 |
What AI cannot do does not exist. Beautiful write up, I totally agree with you 💯 Did you use AI?  |
| Re: Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by Mynd44(mod): 7:18am On Jun 12, 2025 |
owobokiri:Has the state government showed interest in doing that? Or when the governor who built it did, he didn't consider how people will actually get to that huge white elephant project? Or are you going to validate the $3 billion or more to build the rail FYI The Railway to Maradi passes through 3 Nigerian states then terminates at a border town which is Maradi not Al Makura. You are not even saying build a landing strip up there, you want a rail (good luck with that oo) |
| Re: Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by Mynd44(mod): 7:18am On Jun 12, 2025*. Modified: 7:35am On Jun 12, 2025 |
Christistruth02:When you get off the coastal road, do you know how far Obudu is? |
| Re: Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by owobokiri(m): 7:45am On Jun 12, 2025 |
Mynd44:It wasn't even Gov Duke that started that project. It was MI Okpara in the former Eastern region. That was when the name "Obudu Cattle Ranch" was used for the place and the plan to harness the tourist potentials mentioned . Obudu should get as much investments and funds as it should from the federal government. At the moment, in this years budget, the federal government is spending billions for light rails in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Ogun. You have any good reasons why that sort of economically revolutionary gesture can't be extended to Calabar and Obudu? https://www.thecable.ng/nassembly-inserts-n400bn-light-rail-projects-for-four-states-in-2025-budget/ 1 Like
|
| Re: Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by malali(op): 8:37am On Jun 12, 2025 |
owobokiri:Very good response.I couldn't have said it better 1 Like 1 Share |
| Re: Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by malali(op): 8:39am On Jun 12, 2025 |
Peakdesign23:Have you heard of IVY League ? I attended 2 different ones. |
| Re: Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by Christistruth02: 10:12am On Jun 12, 2025 |
Mynd44:There is another stud that goes off the Lagos Calabar highway to the North and it is supposed to pass through Obudu |
| Re: Why Obudu Cattle Ranch Should Become The “Coachella Of Africa” by IGBOPROMISE1: 10:30am On Jun 12, 2025 |
owobokiri:Was about to say something similar! Whoever is trying to promote Obudu on the national and international stage should just forget it....at least till the present gov't leaves! All they'll get is hot air, dogo-turenchi, promises and motion without movement! Buhari before him wasn't interested and neither would Tinubu! See the way federal effort is put into sustaining and driving stuctures like national arts theatre Lagos and the international conference centre Abuja? Similar billions of naira and the interest can't be found for such if they're located anywhere outside of Lagos, Abuja or the core north....especially if the location is in the south-east! When i say 'one Nigeria' is forcefully being sustained primarily to benefit two regions/groups, their politicians and their entrepreneurs to the detriment of others, this is just another justification of my position! 1 Like |
Otu Lauds FG's Plan To Transform Obudu Cattle Ranch Into Livestock Hub • Cross River Govt Rehabilitates Obudu Cattle Ranch • This Is Not Obudu Cattle Ranch, It Is Mohammadu Buhari's Personal Farm In Daura • 2 • 3 • 4
“tinubu BLASTS Benue Governor You Were Elected To Lead, Protect Not Bury People • Dare Devil Strike: Nigeria Police Other Paramilitary To Embark On Strike • Tension In Rivers State: Farmer Brutally Murdered By Suspected Fulani Herdsmen I