Mascot Uzor Kalu has intensified calls on the Abia State Government to provide a thorough, unambiguous, and publicly accessible explanation of its emerging role in the Enyimba Hotels project. Kalu emphasized that as of 2023, the landmark hotel was wholly owned by
The Aba Chamber of Commerce and a few private investors, which had already established a structured partnership framework with global hospitality giant Radisson Blu.
According to verified information, Radisson Blu had been appointed as the management partner. At the same time, an international financier had proposed an investment package of approximately 50 million dollars to transform the hotel into a state-of-the-art hospitality edifice comparable to modern facilities admired in Rwanda by Governor Alex Otti, and not at the 75 million dollars the Governor claims.
He noted that the financing arrangement was designed to complete the hotel and elevate it into a premium tourism and economic hub with a state-of-the-art conference center. Still, this framework did not initially include ownership or equity participation by the Abia State Government. Kalu, therefore, raised concerns about what specifically has changed in the transaction’s architecture, insisting that the government clarify its entry point, financial commitments, and legal obligations.
According to him, the public deserves to know whether the government acquired shares in the Aba Chamber of Commerce, entered a new joint venture, provided sovereign guarantees, or committed state resources through a different financial instrument.
Kalu further queried the opacity surrounding the identities of all current partners, the exact value of the government’s investment, and the fiscal implications for taxpayers. He stressed that such a high-profile transaction cannot operate in the shadow of ambiguity, selective disclosure, or institutional silence, especially when public funds or state guarantees may be involved.
He reiterated that transparency, accountability, and full disclosure remain the foundation of public trust. This is what the Governor promised during his 2023 campaign, and Abians deserve it.
In his words, the people of Abia State are entitled to a clear, comprehensive, and well-documented breakdown of the Enyimba Hotels engagement, including the ownership configuration, funding obligations, and the project’s long-term economic expectations.
