Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has reassured the public of his administration’s commitment to revamping the moribund Ibom Tropicana Entertainment complex. The governor made this known during an unscheduled inspection of the Ibom International Convention Centre and Hotel, which are part of the complex.
According to Governor Eno, the facilities cannot continue to lie waste considering the volume of funds already invested in the projects by previous administrations. He emphasized that Akwa Ibom State is fast becoming a tourist destination and needs to complete these projects to effectively build up its digital economy.
The governor highlighted the importance of the Ibom International Convention Centre, which can accommodate 5,000 people and has breakout rooms, as well as a 200-room hotel tied to the convention centre. He also mentioned a shopping city and theme park within the complex, which is slated for a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
Governor Eno stated that the unscheduled inspection was aimed at bringing out the best in terms of interactions with workers, observing the quality of work done, ensuring timely completion of the project, and verifying that the execution meets specifications. He emphasized that as elected officials, they have a responsibility to ensure that public funds are utilized effectively.
The governor explained that unscheduled inspections allow him to identify challenges and address them promptly. He cited a principle he learned in business school, “In Africa, you get what you inspect, not what you expect,” which guides his approach to monitoring projects.
Governor Eno noted that the projects are set to be officially flagged off the following week and wanted to assess the current state of work to provide accurate information after the flag-off. He believes that unscheduled inspections are the best way to get a true picture of the project’s progress.
