The Abia State Government says it will convert the newly built Government House at Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, into a five-star hotel, describing the building as unfit and unsafe for government use.
The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, made this known during a press tour of the building. He said the structure, which was commissioned by the former governor Okezie Ikpeazu, lacks basic features like wardrobes, doors, and a working elevator, and is not suitable to be used as a Governor’s residence.
“This place appears uninhabitable,” Kanu said. “There are no wardrobes anywhere. Most of what we saw were just empty halls. Did anybody see any wardrobe on any of the floors? There were none. So this place was never meant, from the outset, to be a residential house.”
He added that only the first floor of the building appears to be completed, while the other areas are still under construction and unsafe. “The rest of the building remains incomplete. A lot of areas are not even plastered, and the elevator was never installed. If anyone missteps in certain parts, they could fall through to their death,” he explained.
According to Kanu, the Governor Alex Otti-led administration has already begun plans to construct a new and befitting Government House on the site of the old residence. He said the current structure at Ogurube Layout will be turned into a hotel so it does not go to waste.
“Governor Otti is a responsible leader who will not allow state resources to be wasted,” he said.
Kanu also claimed that the previous government hurriedly built the structure just to give the impression that a proper Government House had been completed.
“They rushed to erect this structure simply to deceive people into believing it was a functioning Government House. Yes, there are a few pieces of furniture here, but that’s all. The upper floors are completely empty,” he said.
He described the building’s location as a security risk due to the number of surrounding buildings, and accused the former administration of misleading the public.
Kanu also responded to a recent interview by the former Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, who had claimed the old Government House was a rented property.
“That is a lie,” Kanu said. “The old Government House was not a rented apartment. It was a property duly acquired by the state. However, the previous administration paid themselves rent from government coffers while pretending it was a rented space.”
He urged citizens of Abia State to support Governor Otti’s administration and ignore the opposition’s attacks. “We are committed to transparent and purposeful governance,” Kanu assured.
The announcement comes as the current administration continues to review projects and decisions made by the previous government.
