BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
When Hotel Presidential Enugu was built in 1966, it was regarded as the Jewel of Eastern Nigeria, owing to its massive structure and expensive features.
After its construction during the old Eastern region by the then Premier, Dr. Mike Ihuonuka Okpara, the magnificent five-star hotel in Enugu City became a tourist centre, which yielded a lot of revenue for Enugu State during the time of former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani.
Sadly, findings by The Point have revealed that the hotel, situated close to the three arm zone, Independence Layout, Enugu, has been abandoned by the state government and has currently been overtaken by weeds and dangerous animals.
The white colour of the prestigious hotel, on which more than two million dollars have arguably been spent, has washed away; the walls have started cracking, while the premises can be mistaken for a thick bush.
When our correspondent visited, some sections of the massive building had logs of dirty water while one of the halls was being used by some movie makers.
The hotel, with four floors, has a total of 100 rooms, swimming pool of Olympic standard, tennis courts and a nightclub apartment. But, all these facilities and features are in dilapidated and pathetic conditions.
The iconic building, built post-independence, as part of the Eastern government’s industrialisation plan, also brought fond memories to many people that grew up in Enugu and other Eastern states. However, these memories have quickly faded away, leaving the hotel in the current decrepit state, after efforts to renovate it eventually turned out to be a false start.
It was gathered that the structure, which used to be a tourist centre that yielded a lot of revenue for Enugu, started experiencing abandonment during the time of former Governor Sullivan Chime.
After the expiration of Chime’s eight-year tenure, the immediate past governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was not able to bring the hotel back to life throughout his two terms of office.
Findings revealed that some concessioning deals, which didn’t go down well with the state government and interested investors, led to litigations that have frustrated efforts at restoring the landmark project.
The hotel’s journey to ruin started in 2013 when Chime’s administration hurriedly concessioned the Hotel Presidential to some private investors. In the agreement with the erstwhile administration, 80 per cent of the equity stake was reportedly allotted to E-Hospitality Services Limited while 20 per cent was allotted to Hotel Presidential Limited. Primeview was to fund the renovation of the hotel and thereafter manage it for 35 years.
For years, the company could not raise funds and recently alleged wrongful termination of the lease agreement.
Senior officials of the state government alleged that the Chime administration acted in error to lease the hotel to a private investor on the eve of its exit, after Enugu State House of Assembly enacted the Enugu State Privatization and Commercialization of Government Enterprises Law in July 2008, which was assented by Chime as Governor in November 2008.
Meanwhile, Ugwuanyi’s government terminated the agreement upon inception. The investors – Primeview Hotels Limited – dragged the government to court and demanded a refund of their money, following an alleged cancellation of the project by the state government.
The investors had carried out extensive work on the hotel, both on site and offsite, with a view to redeveloping and transforming the iconic edifice to a world class hospitality facility.
The Vice Chairman of Primeview, Chuma Anosike, had said a group of armed soldiers, policemen and Civil Defence corps had forced their way into the hotel three years after the concession agreement was reached. He said they manhandled the company’s security personnel and took over the property without a letter of authority or valid court order.
According to Anosike, since taking possession of the property, Primeview has spent over $1.2 million to conduct geological survey; topographical survey; structural integrity test on building; environmental impact assessment; complete strip out of pipes, wire in the entire building and complete water proofing and refurbishment of roof before the agreement was terminated.
The company therefore sought refund of the money already spent on the project. Since then, efforts at privatising the hotel has been failing as the structure remains in deep rot.
Efforts made by our correspondent to get the plans of the new administration of Peter Mbah for the restoration of the hotel, failed as his media handlers refused to pick telephone calls or respond to messages sent.
