From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
Thousands of hoteliers, adherents of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS), and invited guests thronged the city for the weeklong silver jubilee coronation of Olumba Olumba Obu as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The event, held from April 13 to 19, 2026, featured humanitarian and educational programmes and peaked with a grand finale at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.
It drew massive local and international participation, according to the international organising committee headed by a gas and oil mogul, Bassey Imowo.
The committee said over one million faithful were recorded to have arrived from across Nigeria and abroad, describing the gathering as a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual convergence.
Estimates indicate that the hospitality sector raked in over N20 million within the week, based on average room rates ranging between N20,000 and N40,000 across more than 2,000 available hotel rooms in the metropolis.
Transport operators also recorded significant gains, as chartered buses conveyed thousands of participants from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Abuja, and other states at costs averaging N1.5 million per trip, excluding numerous private vehicles.
The economic ripple extended to consecration activities, where 123 bishops and archbishops-elect undertook mandatory episcopal tours across Nigeria and abroad, further boosting transport demand and injecting millions of naira into the sector.
Residents around Ambo, Itam, Onitsha, and Mbukpa areas described the organisation as a major economic driver, likening its impact to an “oil well” due to the steady inflow of visitors and spending.
Street traders were among the biggest beneficiaries, as food vendors, tailors, barbers, and petty traders reported brisk business.
A trader, Joyce Akpan, said she sold out multiple food supplies within days despite increased prices, citing overwhelming demand.
The property market also witnessed sharp increases, with rents for two-bedroom apartments rising to between N700,000 and N900,000 annually, while land and housing prices surged as more adherents sought proximity to the BCS headquarters.
Speaking at the event, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu declared continued blessings for the state, attributing the influx of visitors to its spiritual significance, while commending Governor Bassey Otu for providing a conducive environment.
The governor praised the organisation’s longstanding contributions to tourism and the economy, noting that its global reach has consistently attracted visitors and investment into Cross River State.
