The Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, has described the reconstructed and launched Hotel Presidential as a strategic enabler of the state’s growth plan. A major plank of this plan is to grow the state’s economy sevenfold from the current $4 billion to $30 billion.
Governor Mbah added that the strategic growth plan also aims to achieve zero percent in poverty headcount rate.
He assured that the standards for the hotel’s revamp were truly world-class, because his administration insiste on this so that when Enugu says ‘welcome’ to its investors, the state’s hospitality infrastructure speaks with the same credibility as the state’s policies.
“Our hospitality ecosystem today is simply inspiring: the 5,000-seat International Conference Centre (ICC) now anchors Enugu’s conferencing ambitions while the adjacent 5-star, 345-room ICC Hotel under construction will deliver premium keys for large events,” he said.
Mbah spoke at the unveiling of the reconstructed 62-year old hotel that had been moribund in the last 15 years. The hotel was built by the administration of former premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Michael Okpara.
He explained that the revamping of the hotel was in line with his campaign promise to recover Enugu’s moribund assets and also grow the state’s economy sevenfold.
“Sixty-two years ago, our forebears under the visionary leadership of Michael Okpara built this landmark hotel as a symbol of Eastern Region’s resilience, elegance and enterprise.
Over the decades, time and neglect dimmed that light. For about 15 years, this glorious edifice stood as an affront to our pride, as something contrary to what we represent,” he noted.
“We came into office with a strong pledge to recover what belongs to our people, convert dormant assets into productive assets, and turn liabilities into engines of growth.
That is why this unveiling is more than opening the doors of a hotel; it is the reopening of Enugu’s confidence, and a tangible sign that when we say Enugu is open for business, we mean business,” he said.
The governor noted that Enugu Air has given wings to the state’s dreams and announced the scale of its vision to the world, adding that the renewed Hotel Presidential adds a full-service icon back into the mix.
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“None of this is a whimsical project; they are connecting dots on a large canvas. These assets are crucial to our aim to welcome up to three million annual tourist visits and to make Enugu the Conferencing Capital of Africa.
The economic value is already visible. This hotel alone supports hundreds of direct jobs, culinary and events teams, engineering, landscaping, suppliers, and several other opportunities,” he said.
Continuing, he said, “every conference day books our taxis and CNG buses; every visiting family discovers our art, our music, our cuisine, and our warmth. And the signal to investors is even bigger: when government shows it can recover assets, fix the fundamentals, and protect investments, private capital follows.
That is why you see momentum across other moribund assets like UPPL, Sunrise Flour Mill, Nigergas; International Conference Centre, and a host of others.”
He commended the managers and concessionaire of the reconstructed hotel, Amber Hospitality, for believing in Enugu’s potential, noting that “they bring on board an enviable pedigree, earned through the efficient management of about 12 successful brands in the hospitality sector.”
He equally commended the contractors – Dilworth – for their attention to detail as well as the successive Commissioners of Works and Infrastructure and their Culture and Tourism counterparts for working to realise the project.
In her address, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ugochi Madueke, extolled Mbah’s leadership, saying, “the silence has been broken; the lights are on — never to dim again; the doors are open — never to shut again; and the spirit of Enugu is back, stronger and brighter than ever.”
Sunday Onyebuchi, former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, commended the governor for his speed in not only building new things, but also in reviving dead assets. “Your mantra says that tomorrow is here, but you have resurrected yesterday today,” he said.
Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, praised the governor’s work rate, having commissioned Enugu Air, five transport terminals, 100 CNG buses, and the reconstructed Hotel Presidential in quick succession under one month.
“If you are not tired of commissioning projects, we will not be tired of coming out. We have never seen it this way. Your leadership in Enugu is legendary and monumental. There is no vacancy in Lion Building in 2027,” he assured.
In the same vein, the Chairman of Enugu North LGA, Ibenaku Onoh, acclaimed the governor’s transformative leadership, and assured him of the people’s continued support.
