Nigeria's Bold Tourism Push: Governor Prioritizes N248bn Projects Over Assembly Rehab

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Complex has remained under lock and key for nine months, with little to no visible progress on its rehabilitation project. This starkly contrasts with the bustling construction activities observed on three adjacent hospitality projects, which the state government is funding with a combined budgetary provision of N248.83 billion.

During a visit on August 7, PREMIUM TIMES observed the assembly complex in much the same condition as reported in June, more than seven months after lawmakers and staff vacated the premises. A mobile crane and concrete mixer were present but idle, with no construction workers in sight. The section of the complex where the roof had been removed remains exposed to the elements, showing signs of weather damage. Meanwhile, the football field within the premises is now frequently used by youth for matches and training, indicating a lack of active construction.

Despite the lack of progress, budget documents reveal significant allocations for the assembly rehabilitation. The state government provided N2.95 billion for the project in its revised 2025 budget and a further N12.52 billion in the 2026 budget, bringing the total allocation for the rehabilitation and remodelling of the complex to N15.47 billion. Governor Umo Eno first expressed public concern about the complex's condition on July 1, 2024, promising rehabilitation. The project eventually moved from promise to implementation, with lawmakers and staff directed to vacate the complex by a circular dated October 24, 2025, ahead of a scheduled commencement on October 27. The contractor's representative, Ochemba Lee, had described the project as a comprehensive overhaul with a six-month completion timeline, which expired in April 2026. Over three months past this deadline, work remains unfinished, forcing lawmakers to conduct plenary sessions at the Government House.

Lawmakers, who spoke anonymously due to fear of victimisation, expressed embarrassment over the prolonged closure, attributing the delay primarily to funding issues. They highlighted the postponement of plenary sessions since July 7, impacting legislative duties such as the submission of local government tour reports and consideration of new health bills. Concerns were also raised about the situation's potential persistence as the 2027 elections approach, given the legislature's lack of financial autonomy. The continued use of the Government House for sittings, and the relocation of assembly offices to Luton Park Hotel, Uyo, also raise questions about the undisclosed costs of these temporary arrangements.

Further questions surround the project's contractor and procurement processes. A relocation circular identified JDP Construction Nigeria Limited, while project signage indicated CLAD Construction Nigeria Limited. Representatives of CLAD Construction, a company incorporated recently on December 7, 2024, also briefed lawmakers. PREMIUM TIMES found no procurement information for the project on the state's electronic procurement portal, despite legal requirements. Additionally, the 2026 budget shows a separate N300 million provision under the Ministry of Special Duties for "Rehabilitation/Repairs of equipment at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Complex," the connection of which to the main N15.47 billion project remains unclear.

In stark contrast to the stalled assembly project, the nearby tourism and hospitality complex is a hub of activity. Workers were actively observed at the 14-storey Ibom International Hotel, the International Convention Centre, and the ARISE Shopping City during the August 7 visit. The hotel project, in particular, appeared to be making significant progress, with workers reportedly operating day and night to meet a September commissioning deadline. The International Convention Centre and ARISE Shopping City also showed ongoing construction. These projects are central to Governor Eno's strategy to build a tourism ecosystem in Uyo, which includes the 5,000-capacity International Convention Centre and the 200-room Ibom Hotel.

These three hospitality projects have attracted a combined N248.83 billion in budgetary provisions across 2025 and 2026. Specifically, the Ibom International Hotel received N50 billion (2025) and N11.33 billion (2026); the International Convention Centre, N70 billion (2025) and N50 billion (2026); and the ARISE Shopping City, N10 billion (2025) and N50 billion (2026). An additional N7.5 billion was approved in 2026 for roads and gatehouse construction within the Ibom Tropicana complex, which these projects are reviving from the abandoned initiative of a previous administration.

The disparity in progress between the legislative complex and the tourism projects raises critical questions about the state government's priorities. Despite a six-month completion promise and over N15 billion in budgetary provisions, the constitutional arm of government remains dysfunctional, while hundreds of billions are invested in tourism infrastructure. This situation is particularly puzzling given Akwa Ibom's substantial public revenue, which reached N2.934 trillion in the first 38 months of Governor Eno's administration, exceeding the total revenue of the preceding eight-year administration.

Attempts by PREMIUM TIMES to seek explanations from officials responsible for the assembly rehabilitation, including the Head and Secretary of the Direct Labour Committee, and Commissioners for Information and Finance, were met with silence or unreturned calls. CLAD Construction could not be reached. Umo Isuaikoh, coordinator of Peace Point Development Foundation, stated that the prolonged closure "raises serious questions about the state government's commitment to the effective functioning of democratic institutions" and called for public disclosure of project status, committed amounts, contractor identity, original timeline, and reasons for delay. For now, the Akwa Ibom Assembly remains locked, with plenary sessions suspended for over a month, equipment idle, and unanswered questions about accountability and priorities persisting.