Enugu signs N100bn palm plantation deal

The State government of Enugu has signed N100bn deal with Pragmatic Palms Limited for the revitalisation of the moribund Enugu State United Palm Products Limited.

The state has also revealed that it will construct a 380-room five-star hotel at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.

These were the outcomes of the State Executive Council meeting on Tuesday.

The contract for the five-star hotel was awarded to the China Communication and Construction Company.

Briefing journalists shortly after the meeting at the Government House, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Gerald Otiji; Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Obi Ozor; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ugochi Madueke; and the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr Patrick Ubru, said these were in furtherance to the administration’s focus on making Enugu State the premier destination for investment, business, tourism, and living.

“The council, today, approved the construction of a five-star hotel on the International Conference Center premises.

“It is a 380-room hotel with other world-class amenities where the best brands will be competing to be partners in the project.

“We also approved the N100bn deal to Revitalise Enugu State United Palm Products Limited deal, which is a state asset located at Ugwuoba in Oji River LGA, Umulokpa in the Uzo-Uwani LGA, and Ibite-Olo in the Eziagu LGA.

“We are talking about a total of 6,700 hectares, although it is not 100 per cent covered by palms because only 2,000 hectares have been planted.

“The state is contributing 40 per cent, which is the value of our land or assets, and our partners are providing the finance for the remaining 60 per cent of the transaction value,” Otiji said.

Giving details on the five-star hotel, Madueke said the proposed facility would have a ripple effect on the tourism and hospitality industry and the economy in general.

She explained that the absence of a five-star hotel in the state was responsible for the paucity of international flights into Enugu and the inability of the state to host money-spinning conferences like those of the Nigerian Bar Association.

“You will agree with me that this will not just boost our economy, but also boost the image of Enugu as the heart of Igboland,” she stated.

Ubru, on his part, said the revitalisation of the United Palm Products Limited would create jobs, put Enugu State in the forefront as one of the biggest producers of oil palm products, and also help the state to earn foreign exchange.

According to him, more companies would be revived, and more jobs would be created.

Ozor, the Commissioner for Transportation, noted that the administration had unveiled the first phase of the Transport Infrastructure Project, an initiative that covers the Enugu Central Station, situated opposite the Holy Ghost Cathedral, the Gariki Central Station, the Abakpa Central Station and the Nsukka Central Station.

He said it was part of the government’s effort to bring about an efficient, sustainable and affordable transportation system in the state and use transport as a key growth driver to grow the economy from current $4.4bn to $30bn.