A’Ibom Govt to transform 10th Anniversary Hotel to Secretariat

In line with its determination to checkmate avoidable wastage of funds, while using the saved funds for other needs of the state, the Akwa Ibom State Government has taken a step to turn the moribund 10th anniversary Hotel and shopping mall to a civil service secretariat. 

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal, Prince Enobong Uwah when he led the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Valarie Obot, Directors and other staff of the ministry on an inspection tour to the long abandoned building located at Udo udoma Avenue, adjacent Oron road, Uyo. 

The commissioner who decried the amount of money the state government spends on rent in a year, assured that government will, by December 2015, complete the renovation of the dilapidated structure and convert it to a civil service secretariat, thus helping to reduce the accommodation burden experienced by civil servants at the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat. 

Prince Uwah, who is an Uyo born politician disclosed that, the property, when renovated will house some of the government owned ministries, currently occupying rented apartments at various locations within the state, and at the financial expense of the state government. 

The commissioner admitted that, the renovation was in line with the state governor’s policy of ensuring that, state funds are not used for frivolity and avoidable projects and programmes.

While commending Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for the foresight and determination to drive the state to an enviable height , the Commissioner said, the project when completed, will recycle government funds previously used to pay rented apartments to launch other economy-boosting projects.
Uwah, commended the governor for consolidating on the gigantic strides of the previous administration, and expressed optimism that, Governor Udom Emmanuel will perform more than expected. 

He noted that, so far, the ministry through the recommendation of the governor, has renovated two blocks as well as built a new block in Anua Hospital, stressing that, after converting the 10th anniversary hotel to a secretariat, the ministry will do same to other wasted facilities owned by government within and outside the state.

The commissioner asserted that, a temporal alternative has already been provided for the displaced truck park operators who had found enough comfort for a business environment in the hotel premises, adding that, workers at the sites will adhere to safety measures to guide against loss of life and injurious tendency .

“I have told them already, we are not going to allow contractors to come into the site without safety helmet. The era that this work will be completed is four months, because, all things being equal, by January next year, civil servants will resume work here.

“My boss, the governor, does not want wanton use of resources for frivolous and avoidable projects. He is a kind hearted man, who thinks well for the state. I thank him for consolidating on the gains of previous administrations.
“In Anua, we have renovated two blocks and we are currently building one block in honour of a certain doctor who is now late”, the commissioner stressed. 

It would be recalled that the ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal , had in a letter number MHUR/ESD/AD/72/VOL1/8, informed the occupants of the structure to quit the structure as Government has put in measures to take over for renovation.