Governor Otti Outlines Economic Benefits of Completing Enyimba Hotel

Enyimba Hotel Aba is finally rising after 54 years. Discover why this 5-star revival could transform Aba’s economy and attract global attention. Click to read the full story.

February 26, 2026 | All Facts Newspaper

 

The long-abandoned Enyimba International Hotel and Convention Centre is finally set for completion and Governor Alex Otti says its rebirth will redefine Aba’s economic destiny.

Speaking yesterday at the Enyimba hotel premises after commissioning the Ovom Land Reclamation and Road Projects and flagging off new civil engineering works at the Enyimba complex, the Governor described the moment as the symbolic “Phoenix Rise” of Aba.

First conceived in 1972 by then East Central State Administrator, Ajie Ukpabi Anthony Asika, the Enyimba Hotel project was envisioned as a landmark hospitality masterpiece overlooking the Aba River. Work began in 1975, stalled, resumed briefly in the early 1980s under Dee Sam Mbakwe, and was eventually abandoned for decades.

For over five decades, the seven-storey structure stood unfinished exposed to the elements, yet unbroken.

Governor Otti said the revival represents more than construction work; it is the restoration of a generational dream and a bold statement that Aba is ready to reclaim its commercial glory.

In a major announcement, the Governor confirmed that global hospitality brand Radisson Blu will drive the delivery and management of the project under a structured public-private partnership.

According to him, the goal is clear: to deliver an international 5-star hotel that matches the original vision of its founders.

The first phase, to be completed within 12 months, will deliver a 120-room facility and a world-class convention centre. Within four years, the development is projected to expand into a 250-room hospitality hub capable of hosting major local and international events.

Governor Otti linked the hotel’s revival to broader infrastructure reforms across Aba, including road reconstruction, sanitation, security upgrades, and erosion control — notably the massive Ovom reclamation project commissioned just 400 metres away from the hotel site.

He argued that a 5-star hotel cannot thrive in isolation and that his administration spent the last two years preparing Aba’s ecosystem to attract premium investment.

“Aba is no longer defined by neglect,” he declared, insisting the city has become one of the cleanest and most secure urban centres in the region.

The Governor projected that once operational, the Enyimba International Hotel will:

• Raise hospitality standards across the city
• Attract new investors
• Stimulate job creation
• Expand the entertainment and tourism sectors
• Increase internally generated revenue

He emphasized that competition would elevate service quality citywide and position Aba as a prime business destination in West Africa.

Governor Otti also urged residents and business owners to embrace tax compliance, describing it as an investment in the city’s growth. According to him, the emerging Aba will demand higher standards of civic responsibility and accountability.

“This is our project,” he said, calling for collective support to ensure timely delivery.

With bulldozers set to return to the long-silent site, the once-abandoned structure that symbolized stalled ambition now stands as a declaration: Aba is rising and this time, the dream will not be deferred.