Otti Plans 250-Room Five-Star Hotel for Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has announced that discussions are at an advanced stage with a renowned company to build a 250-room five-star hotel in Umuahia, aimed at boosting tourism and business activities in the state capital.

The governor made this known on Friday during a civic reception organised in his honour by the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

Otti said the site for the proposed facility had already been identified, and a partnership agreement would be signed by the weekend, ahead of an imminent groundbreaking ceremony.

“I got the draft agreement, which I shall sign this weekend to bring in a partner and sign an agreement for a five-star hotel, just like we are doing in Aba with the Radisson Blu,” he said.

The governor added that the partners would be formally unveiled during the groundbreaking event, describing it as “a name that you know and a name you will be very proud of.”

Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to good governance and sustainable development, stating that leadership must be rooted in stewardship and service to the people. He described governance as a sacred responsibility guided by public trust and divine direction.

“It is a privilege to serve our people, and I personally see leadership as service and leadership as stewardship. Anytime you take away stewardship from leadership, it becomes self-serving, because for us, this is about stewardship,” he said.

The governor listed other ongoing projects in Umuahia, including the township stadium and the Amachara Specialist Hospital, noting that his government only initiates projects it is certain to complete.

“The transformation of Umuahia is at an infant stage; it is just starting, and we have clearly set out in our minds what we want Umuahia to look like. We are not comparing ourselves with anybody. We do not want Umuahia to look like Dubai; we want it to look like Umuahia,” Otti said.

During the event, Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Austine Mmeregini, and the Chairman of Umuahia South Local Government Area, Chinedum Enwereuzo, commended the governor’s developmental strides. Enwereuzo assured Otti of the constituency’s continued support, including votes in the 2027 elections.

Goodwill messages from stakeholders, including former PDP chairman Uzodinma Okpara, lawyer Monday Ubani (SAN), and former Defence Minister Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, praised the administration’s performance in healthcare and social security for the elderly.

Archbishop Chibuzo Opoko of the Methodist Church Nigeria, who chaired the occasion, urged the governor not to relent in executing more projects, while the ceremony also featured the defection of former federal lawmaker Oluchi Ibeji and hundreds of others to the Labour Party.