SPOTLIGHTS
- The Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre project will be completed.
- The project aims to boost the state’s economy and create employment opportunities.
- Encroached land will be retrieved, and illegal structures removed.
- Security measures are being implemented to protect the site.
From Isaac Job, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno has announced the government’s commitment to completing the abandoned Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre on Udo Udoma Road.
Governor Eno, during an inspection tour of the dilapidated site, also ordered the immediate retrieval of 82 hectares of encroached land initially acquired for the project.
The governor, who had previously held a re-evaluation meeting with the project’s contractors, inspected various facilities, including the theme park, the 14-storey Tropicana hotel building, and the 5,000-capacity conference hall.
He explained that the visit stemmed from his administration’s resolve to prioritise critical infrastructure with the potential to boost the state’s economy. This move aligns with his promise to complete unfinished projects inherited from previous administrations.
“We have resolved to put the past behind us. We have structures on the ground. What I’m doing now is assessing the original vision, understanding its components, and determining how to revive it. This project can create thousands of jobs for Akwa Ibom people,” Governor Eno stated.
He further questioned the need to duplicate efforts by initiating a new theme park at the Udo Udoma Cenotaph when the existing facility could be revitalised.
To this end, the governor directed the Commissioner for Lands, Captain Iniobong Ekong (rtd.), to provide a survey plan of the acquired land. This will facilitate the removal of trespassers and illegal structures.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Special Duties was tasked with cleaning the area, while the Commissioner for Internal Security and Waterways, General Koko Essien (rtd.), was instructed to oversee the site’s security. Governor Eno issued a stern warning to vandals and criminals, emphasising that the government will prosecute any further encroachment.
“This is Akwa Ibom’s money, and it’s my duty to protect government assets and the lives and property of the people. The government has invested heavily here, and we must safeguard it,” he asserted.