FOLLOWING the termination of a contract meant to deliver an Enugu Hotel Presidential project, the Enugu State Government has commenced move to pick new partners, contractors that would see through the project.The new drive, according to sources is fanned by the government's desire to ensure that it preserves the central and historic place of hotel.Enugu State government says it would soon scout for partners to put the hotel back to life.Located close to Michael Okpara Square and the Lion Building, Enugu State Government House, the hotel is easily accessible.Tucked within an expansive landmass at the Rangers Avenue and Presidential Avenue, the hotel boasts of 100 suites on four floors. Each floor houses specific bed spaces, while the ground floor presents the reception, shops for antics and sundry items as well as a conference hall.Rising as a historical monument, Hotel Presidential has over the years attracted similar facilities around its environs. The landscaping with luxuriant flowers and capacious parking space for cars make the hotel the first choice whenever the search for a befitting venue for mega events is on.But, things went awry especially during the military interregnums as the company's revenue plummeted on a daily basis. But the years spanning 2000 through 2003 witnessed the greatest misfortune of the hotel said to have been designed like the State House of Assembly complex, by an Israeli firm. Some politicians used the place as complimentary accommodation to hangers on and host events that were not paid for. This further impacted negatively on the hotel.Pioneer Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ozo Joe Mmamel, denied that the state government has abandoned the foremost hospitality industry, pointing out that care is taken to ensure that the place is upgraded without defacing its original design. He disclosed that the search for genuine investors under a private public partnership arrangement has begun explaining that a competent investor that would be selected would build operate and transfer.The Commissioner revealed that it was because of the premium the state government placed on the resuscitation of Presidential Hotel that it recently terminated with immediate effect the contract awarded to Status Symbol International Limited regretting that the company was foot-dragging on the renovation agreement.Ozo Mmamel, told The Guardian that an important factor in the terminated agreement 'was time frame because the state government does not want a situation where a company would stagnate its tourism development blue print'. 'So we want to ensure that the agreement conforms to the development plan of this administration; the state government has often stated its preparedness to fast track the development of tourism in the state. It was intriguing that after three months of entering into the agreement, the company did not show serious signs of its preparedness to fulfill its side of the bargain. I can tell you that very soon we will advertise for fresh bids,' he added.He stressed that prospective companies for the partnership apart from making provision for a nominal director and disclosing its fund portfolio would be expected to infuse the necessary innovations that could situate the hotel as the foremost hospitality industry in the state.Status Symbol was on February 1, 2012 awarded the contract to 'improve, renovate and rehabilitate Presidential Hotel', but in terminating the agreement the state government said the company demonstrated lack of capability to handle the assignment.In a letter with reference number AG/S.2/111/T, dated May 31, 2012; signed by the State's Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Anthony I. Ani; the government informed the company that consequent upon its unwillingness to fulfill 'your obligation, the lease agreement between you on one hand and Enugu State Government and Presidential Hotel is hereby terminated'.Part of the letter entitled 'Termination of Lease Agreement', reads: 'On the first day of February 2012, you entered into agreement with Enugu State Government and Presidential Hotel to improve, renovate and rehabilitate the Presidential Hotel. You undertook the said agreement to rehabilitate the hotel in accordance with the Project time schedule attached to the lease agreement.Fundamentally, you have demonstrated that you are either incapable or unwilling to fulfill your obligation under the lease agreement as there is nothing in the Hotel indicative of your presence or any work going on or likely to go on in the near future. 'Consequent upon the facts above, the lease agreement between you on one hand, Enugu State Government and Presidential Hotel on the other hand is hereby terminated with effect from the date there in'.The commissioner disclosed that Status Symbol Limited was awarded the contract after it approached the state government with an American, who said he was amazed by what he saw of Enugu during the 2009 World Youth Championship and wanted to invest the sum of $20 million in the hospitality industry. 'A relationship was established and given the state government's burning desire to turn around the fortunes of the hotel, Status Symbol Limited, the State Government and Hotel Presidential went into an agreement,' Mmamel stated adding that the terms of the agreement was based on specific timelines spelling out what level of work should be achieved in graduated time periods.He remarked that after two months the state government demanded for a kind of bank guarantee to ensure that the Twenty Million United States Dollars was actually meant for the project. According to Mmamel, no sign of seriousness was shown by the company, and the government handed it a two weeks ultimatum to show evidence of capacity and preparedness to renovate and improve the hotel. 'But when the ultimatum elapsed without any response from Status Symbol Limited, the government went ahead to terminate the agreement. It's like a scam; may be the company wanted to use the lease agreement to source funds from a commercial bank. We could not wait for eternity and have our plans frustrated,' he declared.According to the state official, the state government has no business relationship with TechnoExportStroy adding that potential investors must come up with their BOQ for consideration in the joint partnership venture. He disclosed that this time around the government wants to make the whole thing competitive by throwing open the venture expressing the hope that very an advertorial to that effect will be published soon.Ozo Mmamel stated that apart from the Presidential Hotel, the government was also putting up other infrastructure and amenities to make the Coal City a tourism destination. He hinted that an international conference centre with 3, 000 seating capacity and adjourning domes were in the pipeline.
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