By Fortune Erim And Kate Itam
The Cross River State House of Assembly has launched an investigation into the ownership status of the Transcorp/Metropolitan Hotel, following concerns over the lack of transparency and documentation surrounding its management and alleged concession.
The investigation was carried out by a Special Committee formed to resolve the lingering questions about whether Transcorp Hotel remains a property of the Cross River State Government or if it was concessioned to private entities.
The Committee’s primary objective was to determine the terms and conditions of any such concession and whether the current management is fulfilling the obligations outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
However, the investigation has been hampered by the absence of crucial documents and substantial evidence. According to the Committee’s report, neither the management of Transcorp Hotel nor that of the Metropolitan Hotel has provided the necessary documentation to clarify the transaction between the Cross River State Government and Transcorp. An oversight visit by the Committee to the hotel on August 27, 2024, making it the third visit yielded no results, as the required documents were still not presented.
David Amiye Esq, the Executive Secretary of the State Privatization Council, testified before the Committee, stating that when he assumed office, no handover notes or documents related to the hotel’s ownership were provided to him. He suggested that any transaction might have taken place during the tenure of Chief Ndoma Egba, who served as Executive Secretary during the administration of former Governor Donald Duke.
The Ministry of Justice also failed to provide conclusive information, revealing only that, as of 2022, the State Government had planned to buy over Transcorp through the Metropolitan Hotel and concession it to Reserved Hotel Limited. However, the Ministry could not confirm whether this plan was executed. The State Accountant-General corroborated the lack of transparency, confirming that no remittances had been made by Transcorp to the State Government’s treasury.
According to the Chief Press Secretary to Speaker Ayambem, Mr. Matthew Okache, the Committee’s report raised concerns about the involvement of Mrs. Onari Duke, the former First Lady of the State, who is currently the Managing Director of the hotel. Despite efforts by the Committee to obtain explanations and relevant documents from her, no information has been forthcoming.
The Committee further noted that the change of the hotel’s name from Transcorp to Metropolitan Hotel was made without the involvement of the State Privatization Council or the Bureau of Public-Private Partnership. It also revealed that, since the administration of Governor Donald Duke, no payments have been made by Transcorp to the Cross River State Government.
The committee however, directed the Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice to take legal steps to seal up Transcorp/Metropolitan with immediate effect pending when their documents would be made available for scrutiny by the Special Committee.
Reacting to the findings, members of the Cross River State House of Assembly expressed deep concern over the situation.
Hon. Ovat Agbor, representing Obubra 1 State Constituency, urged the State Government to take immediate action to reclaim state-owned properties. “What belongs to the State should be returned appropriately,” he stated.
Hon. Francis Ogban, representing Biase, criticized the previous administration for its lack of due process in the concession of the hotel. He called on the government to ensure that the property is returned to the State, so citizens can benefit from the employment opportunities.
Hon. Egbe Abeng, representing Obubra 2, emphasized that all state properties belong to the people and must be recovered. “No one is more Cross Riverian than another,” he said, stressing that the State’s assets should be safeguarded for the benefit of all citizens.
In his remarks, Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, condemned the appropriation of state properties by individuals, declaring that such actions are unacceptable.
“Cross River State properties do not belong to any family members but to the Cross River State Government and its citizens,” he said. The Speaker assured that the 10th Assembly would continue to work towards repositioning the State on the right trajectory to fully achieve the “People’s First” agenda.
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