Like the mythical Phoenix Enyimba Hotel comes to life after four decades
By Chukwuma Elvis
The establishment of the Greater Aba Development Authority GADA by the administration of Gov. Alex Otti foreshadowed the resuscitation of a number of iconic projects which had been abandoned for long and left to decay almost beyond recovery.
If these projects had been completed after they were started, they could have become the icons of development in the economy of Enyimba city and reference landmarks recognisable globally.
The Presidential Hotel is a major icon of the city of Port Harcourt and so is the Presidential Hotel in Enugu. The Concord Hotel is also well established as an iconic recreational 5-Star facility in the city of Owerri. Many other 5-Star Hotels have become major landmarks associated with major cities of the World – Hotel chains establish their presence in many cities and are positioned to offer top notch services to both local and International guests seeking comfort away from home.
Enyimba Hotel Aba was to have become one of such places offering 5-Star facilities to guests and Lodgers in Abias’ commercial hub already well established as a destination for business; large volume trade negotiations and deals.
The hotel was designed to provide a conducive setting for business men and women to meet and conclude trade negotiations, families and tourists to lodge for the perfect ‘get away’ and for top government officials, diplomats to transit through on their ever busy schedules.
But unfortunately, these expectations have not materialized owing to the abandonment of the laudable Enyimba Hotel Project by successive administrations since it’s inception.
The main edifice of the hotel complex stands overlooking the banks of the Aba River in a shadow of what could have been had the project been completed long before now.
Enyimba Hotel Aba was initiated by Governor of old Imo State, Chief Sam Mbakwe in 1979. The military takeover of government in 1983 among other factors led to the facility being abandoned for 40 years thereafter.
Following the creation of Abia in 1991 by the General Babangida regime, the new state inherited the unfinished Enyimba Hotel situated in Aba – now in Abia – as part of its share of assets from the old Imo State. It is noteworthy to mention that previous governments in Abia have paid lip service in promises made to complete the hotel.
Numerous visits by officials of past governments and would-be investors to inspect the site of the hotel did not yield anything positive.
Enter the administration of the revolutionary Dr. Alex Chioma Otti.
Governor Otti had promised that Enyimba Hotel would be made to work and serve the purpose for which it was conceived by the Government of Chief Sam Mbakwe.
The promise by ‘the promise’ keeping Governor is coming to fruition before our very eyes. Radisson Blu a global hotel chain has entered into agreement with Abia state government to reinvigorate the Enyimba Hotel Project.
The initial clearing of the site is almost complete while the perimeter fencing of the site is being reinforced to keep trespassers out there-by securing the facility.
The greater Aba Development Authority GADA is front and center in the reactivation of the project which is expected to promote tourism and generate revenue for the state.
From inception, the administration of Governor Alex Otti has demonstrated unwavering intentionality in recovering Aba from years of infrastructural decay as a result of neglect by those whose duty it was to ensure that the city flourished.
On completion, the Enyimba Hotel will be positioned as the crown jewel of the city – an International destination boasting of a world class hotel able to host top notchers and A-listers to the hospitality of NdiAbia.
The vision of Dr. Alex Otti brings about an expansion of the scope of the Hotel with the addition of a 2500 capacity International Conference Center to host major events and to position Enyimba Hotel as an all in one facility able to host major conferences while accommodating thousands of attendees. This of course wasn’t part of the initial concept of the Hotel.
The new improved design going by the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Radisson Blu by the state government includes a 120-room Hotel, a 2,500-seater International Convention Center, complementary smaller auditoriums and an exhibition space. Additionally, the water front straddling the hotel complex is to be developed into a leisure park and relaxation spot.
The Greater Aba Development Authority GADA – has taken this project hands-on leading the charge to clear the perimeter of overgrown vegetation to make way for heavy duty equipment and construction materials to be delivered on site as the pace of work intensifies.
The government of Dr. Alex Otti is committed to bringing the Enyimba Hotel Project to fruition with massive investments in line with agreement reached with Radisson Blu, the global Hotel and hospitality chain. Radisson Blu will manage the facility on completion bringing the experience of a 5-Star facility to bear on those who patronize the hotel.
The Radisson Hotel group was established in 1960 with headquarters located in Brussels, Belgium. The group boasts of over 1500 hotels under its umbrella which is fully operational or under development.
The official Enyimba Hotel project flag off is scheduled to take place anytime before the end of 2025 though work has commenced on site in earnest.
On completion, Enyimba Hotel will be the crown jewel of the infrastructure revolution unfolding in Aba as envisioned by Gov. Otti. This will set up the city as an International destination with the right facilities to receive and host in comfort travellers coming from every destination in the World.
The construction of the Abia Airport near Aba makes it the more exciting as the two major projects progresses and are positioned to complement each other when both become fully functional.
Things are looking up for Aba and indeed Abia as life gradually returns to Enyimba Hotel – in a bold move to expand the economy of the city through hospitality and tourism.
Abia is becoming number one in Nigeria inspired by the thoughtful leadership of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti – it is a new Dawn in God’s Own State.
By Chukwuma Elvis, Public Affairs Commentator.