Abia moves to rehabilitate Enyimba International Hotel

…Constructs roads, lights up streets of Ogbor community in Aba

…Jubilant residents commend government

The Ogbor axis of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia state, is witnessing speedy infrastructural development in readiness for the proposed renovation work at Enyimba Hotel.

BusinessDay checks revealed that work is in progress at the Ikot Ekpene – Gravel – Abiriba -Pepples Road, the Ovom-Pepples Road Erosion site, while a new bus stop has been constructed near the hotel.

Enyimba Hotels Limited Aba, a towering edifice of about 125 rooms, situated at Ogbo-Hill and facing the Aba River, in the minds of the founding fathers, was designed not only to beautify the city, but also to develop the area as a tourist centre.

After about 40 years of neglect and abandonment, the Abia State government and the Radisson Hotels Group have signed an agreement to revamp the seven-storey Enyimba International Hotel, Aba.

Alex Otti, governor of Abia State, in a speech at the signing of the MoU, affirmed that his administration has put all necessary mechanisms in place to ensure the project’s success.

Represented by Ikechukwu Uwanna, state’s attorney general, Otti said that the Abia state government, would do its best to make the hotel meet the Radisson Group standards in order for the hotel to generate revenue back to the state

Governor Otti, assured that the government would maintain a strong relationship with the original owners of the hotel, while ensuring a smooth execution of the deal.

According to him, “Radisson has high standards that they want the state to construct the property. And we know that those standards, the state would do its best to meet those specifications. And when you meet those specifications, it will be in the interest of the beneficiary; the users of the place, which are basically Abians and other people, who will be visiting.”

Erwan Garnier, senior director, Development Africa, Radisson Blu, noted that as a service provider with plans to expand in Africa, Aba remains a key location they want to add to their numbers.

He explained that the location, the product and the right people made it easy for them to key into the project to ensure its viability.

However, Uche Ukeje, director-hederal, Greater Abia Development Authority (GADA), commended Governor Otti-led government for taking decisive steps to revive the abandoned project.

Some residents and business operators in that corridor, explained that roads around the hotel, were deplorable, due to erosion menace, which posed great danger and losses to residents and businesses.

According to them, the Ikot Ekpene – Gravel – Abiriba-Pepples Road has been a forgotten road, which made residents to take longer routes before accessing their homes, describing the ongoing road project as a big relief as it connects to Ngwa Road bridge down to Emelogu and Opobo Road, as well as Ngwa Road to Port Harcourt Road down to Alaoji along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway. He thanked Governor Alex Otti for giving them a sense of belonging.

Members of Sand and Gravel Suppliers Association, whose depot is located at Gravel Road, recalled the ugly experiences of the truck drivers, who come to patronise them due to bad road network.

They commended the contractors for providing drainages on both sides of the road and the quality of work done so far.

Saturday Ikarise, a resident of Ogbor community, a sand/gravel supplier, explained that Gravel Road is a cluster for suppliers of sand and gravel in Aba, which is why the street was named Gravel Road.

Ikarise, who said that he is from Rivers State, but was born and raised in Aba, explained that there was no road in the area before the coming of the present administration in Abia, led by Governor Alex Otti.

He said that the Abia state government seeing the need for a road in the area, decided to demolish some settlements and paid compensation to the house owners to pave way for the construction of the road.

He said that the road has linked up Gravel site to People Road, thereby making it easy for people to access Ngwa Road, through Orji Uzor Kalu Bridge and from People Road to Ikot Ekpene Road.

“To be honest, this road when completed will be useful to residents and business owners, especially sand and gravel suppliers.”

He promised that residents and other users would ensure that the road is well maintained.

“I will not allow anybody to block the drains, because this area is prone to errossion and I am happy that the road has drains on both sides,” he said.

Ositadinna Ogabiri, another resident said that the people are happy with the flood control project at Ovom.

According to him, the drainages will check flood erosion in Ovom and adjoining streets and thanked Governor Alex Otti for taking the decision to construct the road and other roads in Aba and Abia at large.

Aderibigbé, site engineer, handling the project revealed that the drainages, discharging points and catch-pits have been constructed to take the volume of flood water from the area down to Waterside, noting that work is at stone-base stage, while appreciating the residents for their co-operation which facilitated their work.

Meanwhile, the state government has begun the demolition of shanties and illegal structures on Aba River bank, to pave way for reconstruction of the hotel.

According to sources the abandoned facility has become a hideout for drug peddlers and criminals that attack pedestrians and motorists at the Ogbor Hill bridge and adjoining streets.

But, in order to sanitise the area and provide a conducive environment for construction workers, Governor Alex Otti, directed security operatives to clear the area.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Operation Crush, in collaboration with the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), in a joint operation, carried out the clearance exercise.