Enugu Govt Awards Contract to Renovate Hotel Presidential 

The contract for the renovation of Hotel Presidential, a prestigious hotel in the centre of the state capital, has been given by the Governor Peter Mbah Administration of the State of Enugu.

The administration further stated that, in accordance with Dr. Peter Mbah’s goal of rehabilitating, renovating, and commissioning all dormant state assets, including Nigergas, it was currently finalising the terms of agreement for the resuscitation of the state-owned Nigergas Company Limited. 

This was in response to a memo issued by the Enugu State Investment Development Authority.

The state’s governor has pledged to turn all idle resources into productive ones. 

According to Dame Ugochi Madueke, the commissioner of culture and tourism, and Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Aka Eze Aka, briefed the government house media on the actions taken.

According to Dame Madueke, revamping of the Presidential Hotel would not only put Enugu State in the world map as the premier destination for investment, tourism and hospitality, but would also create jobs for the teeming youths in the state.

Hotel Presidential was built by the administration of the late premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara, and opened in 1963. It operated for decades as a classy hotel until going bankrupt.

Speaking about the Nigergas Company Limited, Mr. Aka said that the current administration was concentrating on bringing back all of the state’s shuttered industries in order to generate economies of scale and enable the state to market its goods outside of the Niger Delta.

According to him, the state’s approval of the comatose company’s makeover was reached after a thorough evaluation of numerous business models and ideas that demonstrated profitability and a strong business case.

Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Enugu State Investment Development Authority, provided additional details about the initiative by stating that the nation’s demand for industrial gas and medical oxygen far exceeds supply. 

As a result, the state government must work with a reputable private partner with a track record of integrity to revitalise Nigergas and take advantage of the enormous inherent opportunities.

Dr. Nwobodo said the Nigergas Company, would employ over a thousand workers, when resuscitated.

He clarified that the effort to revitalise Nigergas was one of several initiatives meant to bring other state-owned businesses that had fallen into disuse back to life, including Sunrise Flour Mills, Niger Steel Ltd., and the aluminium smelting firm at Ohebe Dim.