The state government said that the Government House located at Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, the state capital, is in “uninhabitable condition.”
The Governor Alex Otti-led Abia State government has announced that it will convert the Government House built by the administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to a five-star hotel.
The state government said that the Government House located at Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, the state capital, is in “uninhabitable condition.”
The disclosure was made by the State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, during a recent tour of the facility.
Kanu described the building as lacking the fundamental features necessary for a Government House and declared it unsafe for occupation.
“The structure at Ogurube Layout will be converted into a five-star hotel. Governor Otti is a responsible leader who will not allow state resources to be wasted. This place appears uninhabitable,” Kanu stated.
Highlighting the inadequacies of the building, he added, “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.”
Kanu further emphasised that much of the building remained incomplete.
“Only the first floor appears to have been finished. The rest of the building remains incomplete. A lot of areas are not even plastered, and the elevator was never installed,” he said.
Describing safety hazards at the site, he said, “The whole place looks unsafe. If anyone missteps in certain parts, they could fall through to their death.
“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. They misused state resources to put up a gigantic edifice that serves no real purpose.”
Kanu also debunked claims that the previous Government House was a rented facility.
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