Given the constitutional empowerment and other statutes on the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to investigate the mismanagement of Ministries Departments and Agencies of government, Ekpo Udia Enterprise Limited, the consultant, Eket Local Government Council and Community were summoned to appeared before the House committee on Industry, Commerce and Tourism on Monday 6th April, 2024 to answer questions bordering on the decay of the moribund Qua River Hotel in Eket Local Government Area.
This meeting however, followed a resolution of the House Committee on Industry, Commerce and Tourism during its oversight inspection on Thursday 2nd May 2024 , which led the committee to extend invitation to all concerned parties in order to distinctively ascertain why the Qua River Hotel has been left in such deplorable and dilapidated state.
Addressing participants at the assembly complex, the Committee Chairman, Rt. Hon. (Sir) Effiong Johnson, while welcoming the audience who came out in their numbers decried the deplorable state of the hospitality home in Eket.
Hon. Effiong Johnson who is also the Chief Whip of the State legislature reminded the audience and the invited persons and organizations that the meeting was to gather more facts and cross-check relevant documents regarding the privatization of the defunct Qua River Hotel which has attracted public attention.
Expressing government interest to back up the ARISE Agenda of governor Umo Eno, Sir Johnson, member representing Mbo State Constituency, stressed that Ekpo Udia Enterprise was asked to appear before the committee with all relevant documents regarding Qua River Estate.
Mr. Ndudo Nsudo, a former permanent Secretary who worked with AKIIPOC revealed that Qua River Hotel was earmarked for sale alongside Plasto Crown, sunshine battery etc, Ekpo Udia having brought a convincing reactivation plan won the bid at 50 million Naira, while the government being interested in keeping the business bought the assets at 22 million Naira and held that AKIIPOC should be in possession of all documents.
Ndudo, however confirmed that Qua River Hotel was still functional, workers were intact as the plan for the 10 Storey building was still ongoing as at when the hotel was privatized.
On their part, community stakeholders, Sir Jack Etteh, and Mr. Ini Sunday Wills urged the state government should revoke the privatization agreement of the estate as the place has become hideout for miscreant, causing a serious security threat to the environment, as the good intentions of government has caused them black out for more than a year as PHED has vowed not to reinstall armor cable to the feeding transformer due to regular vandalization among others.
Mr. Imaobong Elijah Ekpo-udia from Ikot Ebiere in Onna Local Government Area who represented Ekpo Udia Enterprises Ltd as one of the board members of the organization presented to the Committee the survey plan as submitted by Ekpo Udia Enterprises for the new plan projects and further attached a detailed survey of site for the Qua River Hotel, Eket, Eket Local Government Area with plan No. BJ/AK/Y2K/03/ made on 24th July, 2000; Certification of Occupancy (Ek/835/2004) and General Condition for Sale dated 28th June, 2001″.
Demanding to know the whereabout of all assets of the defunct Qua River Hotel, Mr. Imaobong Ekpo-udia affirmed that they took over unfunctional hotel from Akwa Ibom State Government.
He maintained that AKIIPOC under the chairmanship of Prof. Akpan Ekpo were in position of all Assets belonging to Qua River Hotels and that Ekpoudia Enterprise was left with only the building and the land with the intention to start the hotel afresh from scratch.
Ekpo Udia affirmed that the present state of the hospitality outfit doesn’t conform with the terms and purpose of the privatization of reviving the facility to a first class hotel and also accepted accommodating 37 vulnerable tenants, a fellowship and a house for a pastor in the estate.
He further disclosed that their firm has paid tax, tenancy rate and other accrued revenue to the government
upto 2012, and promised to present receipt of payments to affirm his claims in the next meeting.
Meanwhile, following some unfolding issues, the Committee has invited the then Chairman of Akwa Ibom Industrial Investment promotion Council (AKIIPOC) Prof. Akpan H. Ekpo, the present Chairman of AKIIPOC, and the Director, Akwa Ibom State Investment Corporation- Pst. Imo-Abasi Jacob to appear before the committee at the Assembly Complex on Wednesday 10th May, 2024 by 10am with all relevant documents regarding the privatization of the firm.
Moreso, Ekpo Udia Enterprises was directed to reappear before the committee with some documents to include certificate of incorporation of its firm, Inventory Report of handing over, receipt of all revenue remittances to the government, memorandum of understanding of privatization etc.
In another development, Hon. Selinah Ukpatu, member Representing Ikot Abasi / Eastern Obolo and Chairman, House Committee on Women and Social Affairs, expressed displeasures over the actions of Mr. Imaobong Elijah Ekpo-udia for using his purported fellowship “Crown of Glory Fellowship aka Hephzibah Land” at Qua River Hotel Estate, to accommodate over 12 pregnant women, barring them receiving medical attention from medical personnels in the name of spiritual cleansing which may lead to early grave.
The meeting was attended by the vice chairman of the committee, Hon. Lawrence Udoide – member representing Ini State Constituency; Hon. Nsidibe Akata – member representing Eket Constituency; Hon. Jerry Otu, member Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara; Hon. Bassey Bassey – Okobo and many others.
