By Sylvia Akpan, Government House Correspondent
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism Development led by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Eme Afiah has commiserated with the management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) on the boat mishap of its medical students at the Marina Resort.
During the visit, she expressed sadness over the loss of the students as it is the first time such is happening in the entire history of Cross River State Tourism.
“We’ve had people come from everywhere in the world especially because of our slave museum which is one of the high selling points in our tourism product.”
The Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof. Florence Obi visibly cold described the incident as unfortunate and said she wished it never happened.
“It is a sad thing for all of us as Cross Riverians and even for the state government. Our State is branded and known for tourism and for that to happen is so awful indeed.”
Obi revealed that the children on Thursday were warmly received and were happy thinking it will end in a happy mood.
“Many were excited about coming to Calabar for the first time, they wanted to experience Marina Resort, Tinapa. The boat cruise was not part of our arrangements at all but when they got to Marina Resort after the tour of the slave Museum, they just felt like adventuring into taking the boat ride and all that happened.”
She said the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Medical Services of the police department had to receive the corpses and arrange how to move them to the university and get their parents involved.
Shortly after the visit, Eme Affiah said the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Development are grieving over the news.
“We received with shock the report of the incident that happened on Saturday, 24th of June at the Marina Resort. We heard from the Management of the Resort that students actually came asking for a discount at the gate for them to be able to go to the Slave Museum and after that, we don’t know what really transpired but what we know is that lives were lost.
“It is very disheartening and the entire ministry commiserate with the families of the students and their loved ones and even the students that came with them. The state government is very distraught about this. We don’t know where to start but we just want to thank the Nigerian Navy and the local divers who came out and help to pick up our children from the boat that had sunk.
She commended the state governor for his order on business shut down at Marina Resort indefinitely.
