The Abia State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Radisson Blu to rehabilitate and upgrade the long-abandoned Enyimba Hotel in Aba into a five-star hospitality hub.
The Director General of Aba Development Authority, Ukeje Uche, said in a statement that the initiative aligns with the government’s aggressive infrastructure development plan to boost tourism and investment in the state’s hospitality sector.
“We have embarked on aggressive infrastructure development in the state and are targeting the next level in hospitality because we want our guest investors to have befitting accommodation for their comfort,” Uche stated during the recent MoU signing in Lagos.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti disclosed that the project would transform the 125-room facility into a five-star hotel and a convention centre, positioning Aba as a top destination in Nigeria’s hospitality industry.
“The hospitality sector is beginning to get more robust and gaining more attention,” he said. “This project is expected to create up to 5,000 job opportunities for citizens of the state.”
Otti revealed that the cost of the project is estimated between $25m and $50m, adding that the state government has made budgetary provisions to fund it.
“At this point, we do not have the exact figure, but whatever it costs within that range, we have a commitment in our budget to fund the project,” he stated.
Abia State Attorney General Ikechukwu Uwanna, who represented the governor at the signing, assured that the government would maintain a strong relationship with the original owners of the hotel while ensuring a smooth execution of the deal.
“We have built a robust dispute resolution system into the MoU, which the governor specifically approved. We are committed to making the project economically viable and ensuring good returns on investment,” Ikechukwu revealed.
Further, the Senior Director of Development, Africa, Radisson Blu, Erwan Garnier, highlighted the company’s expansion strategy in Africa, noting that Nigeria remains a key market.
“We have created a special strategy by targeting key cities and states for our expansion programmes, which is why we are partnering with the Abia State Government,” Garnier asserted. “We are very excited about this opportunity and believe that with the right team, this project will achieve great success and benefit the people of the state.”
The Enyimba Hotel project is expected to be completed within 24 months.
