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Tag: abia

  • Ikpeazu calls for increased allocation to federal universities of agriculture

    Ikpeazu calls for increased allocation to federal universities of agriculture

    Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has appealled to the Federal Government to increase its allocation to federal universities of agriculture in the country.

    Ikpeazu made the call on Saturday at the eighth convocation and silver jubilee celebration of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), near Umuahia.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari “for refocusing on agriculture as a way of finding ourselves out of the economic duldrome in Nigeria.”

    He described the decision to revive the nation’s agricultural sector as lofty but noted that it ought to have come earlier.

    He further spoke on the Federal Government’s directive to critical federal tertiary institutions, including MOUAU, to revert to their core mandate.

    “As Abia citizens, our desire would have been for this university to continue to train our children in different areas of academics, irrespective of their inclinations.

    “This is because we do not have any other federal institution that can fill the gap except this great institution,” the governor said.

    He further said that the global challenges of survival faced by graduates of such institutions would require the dynamics of training in all fields of human endeavour in a comprehensive curriculum, to enable them to perform better.

    He said that Nigeria should emulate other world renowned universities, established for specific disciplines but also taught courses that were ancillary to their core mandate and helped to produce all-round graduates.

    According to him, “You cannot be a proper graduate if you do not know a bit of everything.”

    Okezie commended Federal Government’s “extra attention to agriculture.”

    He, however, said that the efforts would amount to lip service, if they were not marched with proper funding of the universities of agriculture.

    He expressed the hope that agriculture would be made a serious business, capable of producing millionaires, to be able to attract Nigerian youths.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, restated Federal Government’s commitment to transform agriculture and make it the mainstay of the nation’s economy.

    Ogbe, represented by the Abia Director in the ministry, Mr Eziri Ebere, said that the present administration had introduced a number of programmes to resuscitate agriculture.

    Some of them, he said, included the creation of 10,000 jobs in the agricultural sector for youths in each state of the federation and Anchor Borrower for rice production.

    Also, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Francis Otunta, listed some achievements as the accreditation of 20 out of the 21 programmes in 2016, plus eight out of nine additional programmes in May/June.

    Otunta also spoke on developmental projects in the university, saying that the institution received over N2.1 billion, representing 40 per cent of the 2013/2014 NEEDS Assessment Fund, to resume work on abandoned projects.

    He said that his administration revived 25 uncompleted projects out of the 45 under the fund.

    He said that over N684 million was utilised to pay old debt to 31 contractors, to enable them to return to site.

    He said, “Work is now in progress on some projects, while some are still suffering setback due to an upward variance in costs resulting from the fall in the value of the naira.”

    On Tertiary Education Trust Fund for the university, Otunta said that three of the six projects for the 2012/2013 fund were completed but only four out of the 20 for the 2013/2014 intervention had so far been completed.

    He regretted that projects, which were hitherto funded with internally generated revenue, had suffered setback due to “too many irregularities”.

    Otunta further said that the university could not pay full salaries to its workers since the past one year due to the drastic decline in the Federal Government’s subsection.

    “The university receives subvention of N325 million instead of the much-needed N451 million

    “For this reason, therefore, it has been impossible to meet our commitment of paying full salaries.

    4,958 students graduated, including 98 First Class, 1,437 Second Class Upper, 2,111 Second Class Lower as well as 1,276 Third Class and 36 Pass.

    Highpoint of the ceremony was the conferment of a posthumous honorary Doctor of Science on the late Premier of the defunct Eastern Nigeria, Dr. Michael Okpara, and honorary Doctor of Science on the former President of Ohaneze, Prof. Joe Irukwu.

    The ceremony, which was scheduled to start by midday, started at about 1.45 pm, due to the monthly sanitation in the state.

    NAN

  • Abia makes N1.3b from Made-in-Aba campaign, says Ikpeazu

    Over N1.3b has been injected into Abia State’s economy since the campaign for purchase of made-in-Aba products, commenced, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has said.

    Ikpeazu, while speaking yesterday at the investiture of Rtn. Andy U. Obasi, as the 15th President of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, said the money came from both direct order and expenditure into Aba economy.

    He said that his government was not relenting on its oars as efforts were already on ground to ensure that Aba made produce gain the international recognition and as well put food on the tables of Aba artisans who toiled to all day to make the wares.

    According to the Abia State Governor “Having served for at least, 24 months as the chief servant of Abia State, I will say that I have been able to change the timidity of the Aba business person from spending 18 hours and preparing shoes only to wake up and acknowledge somebody in Japan who did not do anything by just stamping on that shoes made in Japan.

    “It is for this reason that I took to begin to market from my first day all products that are made in Aba. And I thank God that that effort which many people didn’t see as a wise and worthwhile one has brought Mr. Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo twice to Aba in particular.

  • Relief in Abia erosion communities

    Help is on the way for the people of Uturu, a comunity in Isiukwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, where soil erosion has been wreaking havoc.

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has promised to tackle the problem.

    The state government is also poised to arrest the perennial  gully erosion threatening the people of Umuda Isingwu in Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state.

    Ikpeazu assured traditional rulers from Isiukwuato council that his government would do everything possible to assist the villages in the area. It was also reassuring that as the governor made those promises, earth-moving machines were already at work at the Umuda Isingwu erosion site.

    The Nation gathered that the erosion work at Isingwu, where former finance minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s husband hails from, is being handled by Hartland Construction Company, a division of Setraco Limited.

    Reports have it that the erosion control was a joint action between the Abia State Government and Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

    State government sources said the state has paid counterpart funds for the project, and that  residents who are affected by the work would be adequately compensated.

    Speaking at the project flag-off held at a nearby primary school which is also threatened by  gully erosion, Governor Ikpeazu expressed happiness that finally the project is taking off and with an A-rated contractor that will ensure that the work is done according to specification and completed within 20 months.

    “If we fail to do this today, homes, schools, farmlands and churches will be seriously affected by this natural menace and we cannot afford that”.

    Speaking with the traditional rulers at the Government House in Umuahia, Ikpeazu said that his administration was making efforts to ensure that there was water supply in the Isiukwuato community.

    Leader of the delegation Eze Silas Chukwu and Eze Cletus Ogbonnaya appreciated the Governor for appointing their sons and daughters, including Lady Loveth Ufoegbu, Hon. Osita Igbe of the immediate past cabinet, and his assistance in ensuring that Uturu clan produces a local government area chairman, something that eluded them for decades.

    The traditional rulers also used the opportunity provided by the visit to adopt Ikpeazu as their 2019 governorship candidate.

     

  • Alleged N3.2b fraud: Kalu’s trial stalled again

    Alleged N3.2b fraud: Kalu’s trial stalled again

    The trial of a former Governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu, charged with N3.2 billion fraud,on Wednesday suffered another setback at a Federal High Court, Lagos, as the judge was unavailable.

    Kalu was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) alongside his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogo, on 34 counts bordering on fraud.

    Also charged is Kalu’s company, Slok Nigerai Ltd; the accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Justice Mohammed Idris was absent at Wednesday’s scheduled proceedings as he was said to be attending a conference outside the state.

    Consequently, the court fixed continuation of trial for Nov. 28, 29, 30 and Dec. 1.

    On Oct. 3, the absence of Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) had stalled trial as he wrote to the court informing it of his absence and asked for a short adjournment which was scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 8.

    The EFCC had on Oct. 31, 2016, slammed fraud charges on Kalu and Udeogo.

    The accused had allegedly committed the offences between August 2001 and October 2005 by utilising his company to retain in the account of a First Inland Bank, (now FCMB), the sum of N200 million.

    The prosecution said the money formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia State Government.

    Slok Nigeria Ltd and Emeka Abone, still at large, were also alleged to have retained in the company’s account the sum of N200 million on behalf of the first accused.

    The accused were also alleged to have retained about N2.5 billion in different accounts which funds were said to belong to the Abia  Government.

    Cumulatively, in all the counts, the accused were alleged to have diverted over N3.2 billion from the Abia Government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor.

    The offences contravened Sections 15(6), 16, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, Laws of the Federation 2005 as well as the Money Laundering Act of 1995 (as amended by the amendment Act No. 9 of 2002 and Section 477 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 1990.

    NAN

  • Abia seeks industrial development partnership with U.S.

    Abia seeks industrial development partnership with U.S.

    Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Monday said that the government was willing to collaborate with the U.S. Government to facilitate the development of the state’s economic sector.

    Ikpeazu said this when the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington, paid him a visit at Government House, Umuahia.

    “Small-scale manufacturing is one of our strong points and we have secured the development of a facility where industrial activities will be carried out.

    “We are looking for not less than 500 companies to take advantage of the investment opportunities which the state has to offer.”

    He said that the industrial clusters created by the government were backed by law, to ensure that the project outlived the present administration as a measure to secure investments.

    Ikpeazu expressed the hope that the establishment of commercial ties between Abia and the U.S. government would go a long way to boost industrial development in the state.

    Earlier, the American Ambassador said that the U.S government had interest in the success of Nigeria and its citizens.

    Symington further noted that ties between Nigeria and the U.S. was strong, citing relationships between citizens of both countries.

    “I still have a lot to learn about your state and understand your vision and most importantly how to push that vision forward, especially how to create opportunities for people to live a better life and care for their families,” he added.

    NAN

  • CVR: INEC registers 36,000 in Abia

    CVR: INEC registers 36,000 in Abia

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has registered 36,000 eligible voters during the second quarter of the Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ) in Abia, an official has said.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr. Joseph Iloh, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Friday.

    Iloh said that he was dissatisfied with the figure, saying that the result meant that the commission had a lot of work to do in the state.

    “With this figure, it means we have a lot of work to do. We must have to gear up if we must meet our target,” he said.

    He said that the target was to register at least two million eligible voters during the CVR in Abia.

    He said that so far, the commission has registered 63,563 eligible voters with 27,285 registered in the first quarter of the exercise.

    He further said that as at Oct. 17, the unclaimed permanent voter cards (PVC) stood at 145,349.

    He said that while Aba South had the highest number of unclaimed PVC’s, totalling 63,353, Obingwa had the least, totalling 320.

    The REC regretted that the CVR in Abia was affected by apathy among the people and difficult terrain, occasioned by erosion.

    He said, “Apathy is a major factor here. Some of the young people have lost confidence in the system due to poverty and unemployment.”

    Iloh said that because of the difficult terrain, many eligible voters in rural communities found it difficult to travel to the registration centres at the council headquarter.

    “The poor state of roads hampers free movement of people from one community to another, especially during the rainy season,” he said.

    According to him, some people from Arochukwu and Ikwuano Local Government Areas, who live close to Akwa Ibom, pay heavily to get to their council headquarters.

    The REC said that in order to check apathy, the commission initiated town hall meetings for confidence building and to educate the people on the far-reaching benefits of voter registration.

    He said that the meeting, which would be organised in the 17 local government areas (LGAs), had already taken place in Obingwa, Isialangwa North and Isialangwa South.

    He said that although the meeting recorded impressive turnout, the target audience, especially the major political leaders in areas, did not attend.

    Iloh said that the commission would carry the advocacy to all councillors, state house of assembly and also pay a courtesy visit on Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu.

    He said that the commission would appeal to the governor to declare one-day public holiday to enable workers in the state get captured and registered for voters.

    Iloh appealed to government functionaries, political leaders, traditional rulers, non-governmental organisations, civil society groups, community leaders and religious bodies “to complement our efforts in voter education, sensitisation and confidence building.”

    He expressed the hope that with the level of voter education and enlightenment by the commission, the third quarter of the exercise would record great turnout.

    He said, “The third quarter of the CVR begins on Monday and the commission expects a surge from the people because of the intensive voter education and confidence building advocacy we have done.”

    The REC gave assurance that, “in 2019, every vote must count in Abia.

    “Our advocacy is for people to realise that the voter is king,” Iloh said.

    NAN

  • No automatic ticket for Ikpeazu, others in Abia, says PDP

    No automatic ticket for Ikpeazu, others in Abia, says PDP

    The Abia State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said it won’t give automatic ticket to its members aspiring for any elective position for the 2019 general election.

    The party stated that it will provide a level playing ground for all aspirants irrespective of the position involved.

    The State Chairman of the party, Chief Johnson Onuigbo made the decision of the party known at the end of the State working Committee meeting held in Umuahia the State capital on Thursday.

    He pointed out that the state PDP has resolved to do away with all manners of imposition and impunity in the party.

    Onuigbo noted that party also passed a vote of explicit confidence on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu based on his performance during the last two years and six months in office.

    He said, “The party has declared that all offices for 2019 general election are open and contestable in line with the Abia charter of equity and PDP zoning formula.

    “We urge all our party faithful to remain loyal, steadfast and continue to have confidence in party leadership”.

    Onuigbo added that the SWC also passed a vote of explicit confidence on the state leadership of the party for transparency and effective leadership.

  • Rangers International FC to be on Nigerian Stock Exchange soon

    Rangers International FC to be on Nigerian Stock Exchange soon

    Rangers International Football Club of Enugu will soon be floated on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), an official of the Administrative Commission of Inquiry on Rangers confirmed on Tuesday.

    Based on the submissions mate by the commission, the Enugu State Government will likely divest its shares and stakes in Rangers soon.

    About two months ago the state government had set up the Administrative Commission of Inquiry, which had been looking into the club’s activities.

    The seven-time league champions who won the 2015/2016 title about 32 years after the last time had a poor outing in the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    A member of the commission, Norbert Okolie, told NAN on Tuesday that putting the club’s shares at the NSE was part of the major recommendations made by the commission.

    Okolie, who is also the Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria ( SWAN ), Enugu State, said the commission’s report was submitted to the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Friday.

    He said the commission, after duly considering a deluge of memoranda submitted, noted that Rangers being a big brand in the football business should enjoy and leverage on this.

    “This can only be, by lifting the burden of sponsorship from the state government.’’

    Okolie disclosed that the commission also suggested that the club’s ownership should be spread to other South-East states and other lovers of the club.

    “Thirty-five per cent of the shares will be reserved for the Enugu State Government, while 32 per cent will be for the four states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo at 8 per cent each.

    “Twenty-five per cent will be for the general public, six per cent for the Amalgamated Traders Association, one per cent for Rangers Supporters’ Club and one per cent for Ohaneze Ndigbo.

    “This is what was suggested by the commission headed by Prof. Gab Agu,’’ he said.

    Okolie also said the formation of Rangers’ female football club and basketball team were equally recommended by the commission.

    “This is for maximum benefits to be gained by the shareholders and teeming youths of the states in particular and the nation in general,’’ he said

    Ugwuanyi, while receiving the commission’s 52-page report, had promised to present the document for State Executive Committee (SEC) deliberations and quick implementation of recommendations.

    NAN

  • How Abia managed bailout, Paris refunds, by Ikpeazu

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has explained how the state spent the bailout and Paris Club refunds.

    The governor said his administration spent the funds to settle the backlog of salaries he inherited and improve infrastructure.

    Ikpeazu spoke yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) media conference for chief press secretaries and commissioners for Information from the 36 states.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, said the state imbibed a culture of transparency in governance by giving quarterly update on the administration’s affairs to Abia State residents.

    Speaking on the topic, titled: Application of the Paris Club Refund to State, Ikpeazu said: “The receipt of the intervention funds has become a source of concern to some analysts, pundits, social critics and political commentators. Some comments have been made in the print and social media which were half-truths and sometimes outright lies.

    “May I use this opportunity to briefly state the facts. Interestingly, the Abia State government received the following intervention funds from Federal Government: Bailout fund of N14.2 billion, first tranche of Paris refund of N10.6 billion and the second tranche of he Paris refund of N5.7 billion.

    “In line with the transparency approach to governance of the current administration, after the receipt of the first intervention (bailout) fund, the Abia State government constituted a committee made up of the different labour union leaders, namely the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Joint Negotiating Council.

    “The committee took charge of the disbursement of the funds to various areas of greater needs and exigencies.

    “Indeed, the exercise was conducted devoid of government intervention as 100 per cent of funds received were expended in the services of workers’ payments. This exercise was (by all known standards) transparent and applauded by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Co0mmission (ICPC), which singled out Abia and two other states for their transparency in the disbursement and utilisation of the fund.

    “Fifty per cent of the first tranche of the Paris Refund was dedicated to the payment of workers’ salaries and wages. We also disbursed an additional N600 million to augment the payment of workers’ salaries and wages. Thus, a total of N5.9 billion was spent therein.

    “The second tranche of the Paris refund received by Abia State was 100 per cent spent on workers’ salaries and pensions. This has greatly curtailed the salary arrears and responsibilities of the government.

    “Overall, Abia received N16.3 billion from the Paris Club refund and deployed N11.6 billion to service workers’/pensioners’ wage bill. This translates to a commitment of more than 71 per cent of total receipt to service workers’ salaries and pension.”

    On challenge the state was facing, Ikpeazu said: “The challenge has remained that while trying to clear the backlog of salaries, they keep piling as most of us can testify. This is as a result of the fact that allocations from the centre and the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) have not been enough to carry the monthly wage bill and other responsibilities.”

    The governor also spoke on the efforts by his administration to ensure that workers get their salaries as at when due by introducing the verification and biometric to curb ghost workers.

    He said: “With the introduction of the verification and biometric exercises, some issues, such as ghost worker’ salaries, padding of salaries, multiplicity of people receiving salaries from various units of the government have been addressed.

    “This has assisted the state greatly, as the monthly wage bill has been reduced from an average of N2.8 billion to N2.1 billion. Thus, from this alone, a savings of about N600 million monthly has been achieved. When extrapolated in 34 months, this amounts to about N16 billion, which would have ordinarily gone into some individuals’ accounts.”

    The governor’s Chief Press Secretary Enyinnaya Appolos said: “The state government has brought about transparency and decency in the system. We have built more confidence on the relationship between the labour unions and the government. This can be attested to by the trade unions leaders and their members in the state.

    “Currently, the Abia State government is up to date with the salaries of its ministries, department and agencies (MDAs). In essence, these are the painstaking reforms we have carried out since the inception of this administration.

    “This does not suggest that Abia is not owing some outstanding salaries.”

     

  • Abia: 38 years after, Enyimba Hotels remains moribund

    Abia: 38 years after, Enyimba Hotels remains moribund

    Started by the former Government of Imo State during late Chief Sam Mbakwe’s administration in 1979, Enyimba International Hotel, located along Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway and beside the popular Aba River, within Ogbor Hill, christened “Waterside,” has remained moribund. It was handed over to Abia State on the creation of the state as part the government property Abia inherited from the old Imo State’s assets sharing in 1991.

    Until today, October 22, 2017, Late Mbakwe’s aim in erecting the gigantic structure, proposed for a 5 star hotel, remains unrealised.

    The original plan of Mbakwe’s administration, we gathered from sources, was to provide shelter and relaxation spot for top businessmen and tourists who will visit Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state.

    According to one of the sources, Chika Ogbodo, “the plan of Mbakwe’s administration to situate the structure around the Aba River was to give the visitors and tourists the opportunity to enjoy boat ride from the location of the hotel, down to Azumini Blue River.”

    Ogbodo questioned why the hotel has remained moribund even with the huge economic benefits the state government stands to benefit with the choice location of the facility and the number of investors that throng Aba to do business on daily basis. This is even as Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), which had acquired the facility from government, also failed to gather money or attract co-investors who could rewrite the story of the abandoned property.

    It would be recalled that the former Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Government, Mr. Godwin Adindu, had in a chat with members of the Aba Federated Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists at Romay Hotels, Aba, said that ACCIMA and board members of the Enyimba Hotels risked losing it again to state government as they have failed to develop the place since 1991.

    Adindu had lamented that the 5 star hotels, since it was sold to Aba Chambers of Commerce, was yet to be developed and put into use, but has however served as a habitat for miscreants and illegal squatters.

    The governor’s aide disclosed the unhappiness of Abia State Government and inability of ACCIMA to make the place functional after government ceded the place to them, saying that government may be forced to revoke the contract and look for investors who were going to develop the place and put it into good use.

    According to him, the hotel, which was sold out to ACCIMA, in 1991, has been lying waste without any meaningful thing being done by ACCIMA to actualise the reason why government ceded the place to them.

    He disclosed that the government’s order for the squatters to vacate the place came as a result of security reports and environmental concerns which emanated from the hotel.

    Investigation by our reporter revealed that because of the abandonment of the facility, it became a safe haven and hideout for criminals and miscreants who took the advantage of residing in the facility to commit all manner of crimes, including keeping kidnap victims in the facility while they negotiate for ransom from the family.

    The location of the Aba abattoir in the area, whose activities have further polluted the water and the air around the environs, The Nation gathered, was as a result of the inability of government or ACCIMA, present owners of the facility, to develop the property. It was however gathered that the Abia State Government is making efforts to relocate the abattoir to another site where the government said would be more conducive for the abattoir to operate in.

    It was learnt that as part of efforts to permanently end the activities of hoodlums, the facility was later used by Mobile Police personnel as their residence until 2016 when the Ikpeazu-led government indicated interest to attract an investor who would partner ACCIMA to make the place functional.

    Not long after the state government’s pronouncement, an investor in hospitality and tourism sector of the country’s economy; Swiss International Hotel and Resorts, Africa, came knocking on the doors of the state over the resuscitation of the moribund facility.

    Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, at the flagging-off of the reconstruction work on the building by Swiss International Hotels and Resort, in partnership with ACCIMA, described the event as historic and stated the desires of his administration in the state to ensure that private investors, who will be investing in the state, would have the enabling ground that will make their business to thrive.

    According to the Governor, the completion and taking off of commercial activities on the facility would be the realisation of the dreams of Abia founding fathers and former Governor of old Imo State, Late Chief Sam Iheonunaka Mbakwe.

    “Aba is known for very important and strategic things in trade and commerce, small and medium scale enterprise, but we lack a befitting five star hotel within the landscape of Aba. The absence of a five star hotel has hindered development and not attracting the presence of High Net-worth investors in this city. Because we understand that no billionaire will like to invest in a place where he cannot pass the night. But the reactivation of this hotel, as far as I am concerned, is a catalyst that will drive the renaissance of the Aba business community because what is happening here today is historic,” he said

    Swiss International Managing Director, Africa, Wasiu Babalola and Daniel Okeke, Chairman, Signatures Investment Limited, said they were in Aba to change the face of hospitality business and to give people value for their money, stating that the project, which would be expected to be completed in about 18 months, will cost around six billion naira direct investment to the state and provide about 2,250 (two thousand, two hundred and fifty) direct and indirect job opportunities.

    Babalola and Okeke stated that after the remodeling exercise, the hotel is expected to have its rooms increased from its 105 standard rooms to 141 rooms with 4 presidential suites, banquet Hall of 100 capacity, including swimming pool and amongst others, adding that they were going to also build a Hospitality School within the complex.

    “In fact, this project will put Aba and Abia State as a conference facility capital of the South-East and its neighbouring states. You can agree with me that we have high rate of unemployment in Nigeria and I want to announce to you today that this project will have direct employment of over 250 staff and indirect staff of over 2000, including distributors and others. As we institute this grand venture today, we look forward to inviting you to commission the facility when it is ready before the end of this dispensation”, Okeke stated in an address read at the event.

    Emma Nwakpadolu, then ACCIMA chairman and Nze Maculay Nwankwo, a member of ACCIMA BoT in their separate addresses described the partnership between the Chamber and Swiss International as the beginning of the synergy that would bring about development in Aba, Abia State and Nigeria in general.

    However, a year and eight months after that elaborate ceremony, The Nation reports that Enyimba International Hotel is yet to witness any meaningful development and the investor, who took over the building, is nowhere to be found, leaving the building at the mercy of hoodlums and miscreants. In fact, since the hype of the new efforts to reconstruct the facility on February 8, 2016, up till today, Swiss International Hotels and the leadership of ACCIMA are yet to come out with a statement on why the facility still remains moribund.