AKSG To Complete Moribund Facilities At Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre

By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
There are strong indications that the present administration is completing moribund and uncompleted parts of the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre.
Consequently, the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, held a re-evaluation meeting with major contractors on the project at Government House, Uyo, before proceeding on an inspection tour of the theme park, the 14-storey Tropicana Hotel building and the 5000-capacity International Conference Centre at the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, Tuesday, where he mandated the commissioner for lands, Captain Iniobong Ekong (rtd) to avail himself with the survey plan of the entire land area that was acquired by government for the project, with intent to sack trespassers and bring down illegal structures.
Eno, who said the visit was informed by his resolve to attend to critical infrastructure that have potentials to grow the economy of the State, also directed the Ministry of Special Duties to ensure the cleaning of the entire area, and the commissioner for internal security and waterways, General Koko Essien (rtd), to immediately take over the security of the entire facility.
The governor said his drive to reclaim the facility was also in furtherance of his pledge to complete uncompleted projects initiated by previous administrations and make them functional.
  “We have resolved to put the past behind us. We have structures on ground, what I’m doing now is to see all of the vision, what it was all about, how we can link them together and how we can revive it. This can give several thousands of jobs to Akwa Ibomites.
We’ve been trying to create a theme park at the Udo Udoma Cenotaph but seeing what we have here, why do I need to duplicate? Why do I have to start something new when we have something here we can build on”. This is Akwa Ibom money and so my duty as governor is to protect the assets of government, life and property of the people. Government has sunk in so much money here and so I believe we can look at it.
For me, what is important, going forward, is how we can reclaim this place and make it functional. Behind us is an International Conference Centre. People come here for conferences and conventions. I understand we were named Tourists State of the Year 2023, and when people see your efforts and recognise you for doing something, it means they expect more from you”.
While ordering immediate reclamation of all trespassed portions of the 82-hectare landed property acquired for the construction of the facility, Eno warned vandals and hoodlums to stay off the facility, as henceforth, government will not hesitate to prosecute any violator on the facility.