ABA, Nigeria — Governor Alex Otti on Wednesday announced a twin agenda of economic revival and urban renewal in Aba, marking the long-awaited resumption of the Enyimba Hotels project 54 years after its conception, and unveiling the fully reclaimed Ovom Road, previously ravaged by gully erosion.
At the Enyimba Hotel site, Otti detailed plans for a five-star, 250-room hotel to be developed in phases, beginning with 120 rooms and a modern convention centre, set for completion within 18 months. The project is in partnership with global hospitality brand Radisson Blu, signalling renewed investor confidence in Aba’s economy. A second phase of 130 rooms is expected to be completed within four years.
Otti acknowledged the original promoters of the project, including Ukpabi Asika and Sam Mbakwe, and commended Aba’s business community and ACCIMA for keeping the vision alive. Past investors were recognised with shares allocated to them or their successors.
Attention also shifted to Ovom Road, where the governor inaugurated a fully reconstructed corridor that had been on the brink of environmental collapse. The 42-metre-deep gully spanning over 600 metres was reclaimed, saving properties once threatened by erosion and driving a surge in land values.
Residents expressed gratitude for the interventions. Chief Patrick Onyebueke, a local landlord, said his property was on the verge of collapse before the government’s reclamation effort. He revealed that land values had jumped from ₦5 million per plot to as high as ₦30 million, and celebrated by offering free tea to residents.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe described Otti’s leadership as transformative, while Architect Uche Ukeje, Director-General of GADA, said Aba is fast emerging as a destination for investors and tourists. The events drew traditional rulers, business leaders, and senior government officials, concluding with a minute’s silence for the pioneers of the Enyimba Hotel project.
The inauguration has been widely described by residents as a decisive turning point in Aba’s quest for renewal, reinforcing Governor Otti’s reputation as an action-oriented leader committed to urban development and economic revival.
