The Abia State Government has announced plans to repurpose the newly constructed Government House, initiated by former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, into a five-star hotel, citing structural and safety concerns.
The disclosure was made by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, during an inspection of the three-storey building located at Ogurube Layout in Umuahia. Kanu described the edifice as unfit for habitation and a potential security risk, alleging that the previous administration hastily inaugurated an incomplete and poorly designed structure on the eve of their exit from office.
“This place appears uninhabitable. There are no wardrobes anywhere. Most of what we saw were just empty halls,” Kanu said, expressing shock that the building was intended to serve as the governor’s official residence. He added that only the first floor was marginally completed, with the rest of the structure lacking basic amenities such as plastering and an operational elevator.
He further warned, “If anybody missteps there, you can fall through the place to your death,” underscoring the building’s unsafe condition. The commissioner accused the previous administration of prioritizing political optics over structural integrity and safety.
In a move to rectify what he described as a misguided project, Kanu revealed that Governor Alex Otti has approved the construction of a new Government House at the original site of the old Government House. He also dismissed the former administration’s claims that the old property was rented, asserting that it was legally acquired by the state.
“Those in office before now were busy paying themselves rent from government coffers, deceiving the public they were paying rent for a Government House,” Kanu alleged.
As part of a broader economic strategy, the current administration intends to convert the controversial Government House into a five-star hotel, which Kanu said would help generate revenue and stimulate tourism. He urged the public to support the government’s developmental vision and ignore opposition criticisms.
