Joseph Ekong.
The Transition Chairman of Eket Local Government, Mr. Akaniyene Tommey, has thrown weight behind the effort of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly House Committee on Commerce, Tourism and Industry presided over by Rt. Hon. Chief, Sir, Effiong Johnson on reactivation of Qua River Hotel.
The Council Chairman while leading the committee members who were on oversight function and fact findings following a motion raised by the House Member Representing Eket State Constituency, Mkpisong, Hon. Nsidibe Akata, PhD, wept over the mismanagement and economic waste by the team of investors that purchased the facility.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman House Committee, noted that Tourism is one of the key sectors of Pst. Umo Eno as captured in his ARISE Agenda, adding that, on the heels of the motion raised by Hon. Dr. Akata, and interpreting the ARISE Agenda of Gov. Umo Eno, the team considered it necessary to go on fact-findings.
Going through memory lane, the consultant on the reactivation of Qua River Hotel, Mr. Nsudoh Nsudoh, confided with the team that the government of Gov. Victor Attah under the policy of privatization sold the Hotel to an investor named Ekpoudia Consortium, with the terms to reactivate the place, but the investor failed and breached the condition of the project.
Mr. Nsudoh intimated the House Committee that, “the community’s position has always been for the government to revoke the agreement and take over the hotel”.
Further findings, revealed that more than 50 tenants were occupying the place and paying rents of 100,000 naira to Ekpoudia Consortium.
The Chairman House Committee on Commerce, Tourism and Industry Sir. Effiong Johnson who invited Mr. Imaobong Elijah Ekpoudia who is in position of relevant documents of the property to appear before the plenary on Monday to answer questions, assured the people that the committee will work to ensure the place is reactivated.
