Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River said the state would require N5 billion to repair the Calabar International Conference Centre (CICC) vandalised by hoodlums.
The governor made this known on Monday, while reaffirming the curfew imposed on Calabar and its environs.
Hoodlums had on Friday and Saturday taken advantage of the #ENDSARS protests and looted items in the centre after they vandalised it.
“It will take the state government N5 billion to bring back the Calabar International Conference Centre, the beauty of Cross River State.
“This is not the Cross River that I was born into; it is unlike us,’’ Governor Ayade said.
The Governor said that the action will have strong negative impact on the progress of the state’s industrialisation efforts aimed at job creation.
Police and other security agencies deployed to the town had started raiding the suspected criminal hideouts with a view to recovering the looted items.