Dennis Great 
IBENO BEACH ( HEAVEN ON EARTH)
It was very early in the morning, I woke up with joy flowing around my veins. Seeing another brown new day is a thing of joy because I know I’m about to see and learn more about new destinations in Akwa Ibom. I just walked down to my colleague; Jennifer, to ask her If she’s ready to explore some beautiful places today and she replied to me with those beautiful smiles of hers telling me yes and I left her room in joy. I had to find myself down stairs to get a recharge card to call my family and they were excited to hear from me. After much discussion I went upstairs to get set. Some minutes later, I was set to explore with my friend, then I quickly called our project manager; Mr Edet and he quickly gave me the location.
Immediately without thinking twice, we moved straight up to the park where Mr Edet was. We biked 100 naira each from Akos hotel to the park. It was only 3 minutes, I got to the park. The name of the park is “UYO Park”. We entered the cab from there to Eket. We paid 700 naira each to Eket and the car was something else. There were four Passengers at the back and 2 passengers at the front and the journey was not up to 45 minutes. The cab was not conducive for us because we were struggling to enter and same time squeezing ourselves. Anyways we got to Eket and the park will stop was “OQUA PARK”. Immediately we stepped down, different bikes were approaching us and at the same time calling different locations. Mr Edet started negotiating with one bike man. The bike man and the tour guide later concluded about the payment. We agreed to pay 1k each for a different bike heading to Ibeno Beach.
It was so lovely exploring the road on bike because the journey was just 25 minutes on bike, feeling the fresh air blasting my face and my breath was more balanced because of the natural excess oxygen in space. At that period pure respiration Gaseous exchange was in process. The road to Ibeno Beach was so smooth. I must commend the Akwa ibom state government for really trying to construct and maintain the road. After a few minutes we got to our destinations. My mouth was wide open, I was like wowwww I said to myself is this really Ibeno Beach.
When I was looking around the environment, a tall handsome young man walked up to me with this smile, asking us if we were here for a wedding shoot. I looked at my friend Jennifer and Said like these people are now looking at us like a couple. I said to him no sir, we came here to explore and promote this beach to the world and he said oh okay. The name of this man is Mr Bobby. He guided us to the beach tent where we relaxed and I was privileged to interview Mr Bobby and literally tell us a brief history about the beach. According to Mr Bobby, he said he was the founder of the beach in 2007. Before he found the beach, some white men that travel on sea do come here to relax. That was what brought the kidnapping to the environment. Some people were kidnapping most of the white men coming to relax at a point the white stopped coming there to relax. During 2007 he noticed the beach was empty and nothing was going on. So he called on his friends and they put a stop to the kidnapping. Ever since 2007 till date nobody has experienced anything kidnapping. According to Mr Bobby, Ibeno Beach can contain close to 5000 people and every Sunday thousands of people do come out to feel the sea breeze. He went on telling us that this beach is the longest beach in Africa and this beach leads to several village’s; Ineh Anwa village, Ntang Ikang village, Ndito Ekaiba village, itak ifara village, itia idimekpe village, New barrack village and Okposo village. Each of these villages have their beach and the beach is named according to the village name. Ibeno Beach has many tents you can rest on and more are still being constructed. Looking further, you will see the beach is already constructing Lodges where visitors can rest over the next day or anytime they feel like staying. So definitely the beach will be known as Beach Resort very soon. The beach seashore is a mirror I was seeing in my image. I don’t know words to describe the beach because it is so beautiful. Anytime you visit Ibeno Beach, then you will understand why I call it Heaven on earth. Akwa Ibom is blessed. I must confess, Ibeno Beach is different from every other beach I have seen in Nigeria.
Ibeno Beach is safe to explore…..
