Enugu Government Grants Contract for Hotel Presidential Renovation
The contract for the refurbishment of Hotel Presidential, a prestigious hotel located in the center of the state capital, was given by the Enugu State Government, led by Governor Peter Mbah.
The administration further stated that, in accordance with Enugu Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah’s goal of rehabilitating, renovating, and commissioning all dormant state assets, including Nigergas, it was currently finalizing the terms of agreement for the resuscitation of the state-owned Nigergas Company Limited. This was in response to a memo issued by the Enugu State Investment Development Authority.
Following the governor-chaired State Executive Council meeting over the weekend, the government announced these.
Speaking with reporters from Government House, Commissioners of Information and Communication Mr. Aka Eze Aka and Dame Ugochi Madueke, who oversees Culture and Tourism, explained that the actions were in keeping with the governor’s pledge to turn all idle public property into productive ones.
Renovating the Presidential Hotel, in Dame Madueke’s opinion, would not only establish Enugu State as the world’s top destination for investment, tourism, and hospitality, but it would also generate jobs for the state’s hordes of young people.
“I am really happy to announce this, as the hotel had been neglected and had become dilapidated in recent years. But reviving it will not only place our state back on the map of the globe, but it will also provide a market, an economic value chain, tourism, and jobs for our young people, the commissioner said.
Built under the direction of Dr. Michael Okpara, the late premier of the Eastern Region, the Hotel Presidential first opened its doors in 1963. It operated for decades as a classy hotel until going bankrupt.
Speaking about the Nigergas Company Limited, Mr. Aka noted that the current administration was concentrating on bringing back all dormant sectors in order to give the state economies of scale and enable the state to market its goods outside of the Niger Delta.
According to him, the state’s approval of the comatose company’s makeover was reached after a thorough evaluation of numerous business models and ideas that demonstrated profitability and a strong business case.
In an effort to shed more light on the initiative, Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Enugu State Investment Development Authority, stated that the country’s demand for medical oxygen and industrial gas far outweighs supply. As a result, he explained, “the re-engineering, refurbishment, and subsequent commissioning of Nigergas is a deliberate step by the Governor Mbah Administration to provide the much-needed medical oxygen and industrial gas for the South East and the entire country because the country is hugely underserved.”
“With the potential for enormous profit, the profitability profile, commercial, and investment have been thoroughly examined.
“We are certain about our launch date and have everything in place. We already have the governor’s and the State Exco’s approval, so the only documentation left is this, he continued.
When revived, the Nigergas Company would employ more than a thousand people, according to Dr. Nwobodo.
He clarified that the effort to revitalize Nigergas was one among several initiatives meant to bring other state-owned businesses that had fallen into disuse back to life, including Sunrise Flour Mills, Niger Steel Ltd., and the aluminum smelting firm at Ohebe Dim.
