…govt insists facility not for sale
Security officials on Friday took over the premises of Kwara Hotel in Ilorin following the hijack of ‘auctioning of the unserviceable’ properties at Kwara Hotel by hoodlums, The Informant247 has gathered.
The auctioning process had since begun a few days earlier where some facilities of the 4-star hotel were being sold at giveaway prices.
In a visit to the scene on Friday, Informant247 spoke with one of the hoodlums, who was identified as Baba Boiz claimed that the property belonged to Kwarans and they must obtain their share from the property.
Police attempts to disperse them were met with resistance, with one hoodlum stating, “If care is not taken, we are going to bring down the gate to have more access.”
It was observed that the hoodlums had taken control of the second gate, while those who legitimately acquired the property used the first gate. A police officer fired a gun in the air to disperse the hoodlums at the second gate, prompting them to run away from the gate.
In an interview at the first gate, one Abdulsalam claimed that the glass door he possessed was purchased from one of the agents inside, explaining why the police granted him access to leave the gate without questioning.
As of the time of writing this report, the Nigerian Army and other security operatives have taken control of the premises, restoring calm.
Meanwhile, Kwara State government has declared that there was no plan to sell off the state-owned hotel.
In a statement signed and released by Hon. Damilola Yusuf, Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology (BIT), the government revealed that efforts are ongoing to revive the hitherto moribund facility.
While it noted that the bid process had been opened since September and the successful firm will be unveiled soon, the government insists that the facility is a legacy public property and will not be left to rotten.
The statement reads, “Kwara Hotel is a legacy public property that will not be sold for whatever reasons, Kwara State Government asserted in a statement on Friday, adding however that the facility is to undergo a massive reconstruction and efficient management.
“The government said the bidding process began over two months ago through an advertisement published in different newspapers, including but not limited to the Herald of September 8, 2023 and Tribune of October 18, 2023.
“The open bidding process has been completed and the cabinet is to consider and approve a successful company to finance, remodel, and reconstruct the hotel on behalf of the state within terms that will never include sale of the property and will ensure maximum values for the state. However, the hotel will retain its iconic outward stature, as handed to us by the illustrious founding fathers of Kwara State.
“The public may recall that Kwara Hotel was last given a major facelift over two decades ago. Virtually everything in it has become spent and unusable. They needed to be taken out completely to allow for the rebuilding works. It is for that reason that the government began a few weeks ago the legal process to auction off these spent items and utilities. The process involved all relevant government agencies and registered auctioneers who are allowed under the law to partake in such. Four registered auctioneers were approved in all. The due process of valuation had also been done. The auctioneers have since begun the auctioning of these spent items and utilities to the general public after making relevant payments for same to the state coffers.
“To that extent, the ongoing gorging of the spent items is to clear out the facility for the massive construction works that will begin soon. An exercise of that magnitude is best held in an open environment to avoid stampede. Even so, the police have been deployed to maintain law and order, and prevent opportunist behaviours as much as possible.
“The public is assured of the government’s commitment to make Kwara Hotel the pride of the people once again.”
It would be recalled that The Informant247 had in August exclusively reported how the Hotel, once a toast for tourists across Nigeria was abandoned for 10 months after it was shut down by the government.
