Kingsley Ikpe Udoh
26 November 2008
Calabar — The proposed Entertainment Centre by Governor Akpabio on about 6-hectres of land would when completed host the tallest building in Akwa Ibom of a 250-room Hotel, 10,000-seater Dome, a Water Fall and Shopping Mall. While the Abuja Waterparks Island being proposed by private investors would be on a 10-hectres of land beside the only Lake in the heart of FCT within Cadastral Zone 1, Kado District. It would host a ship-like 230-room Hotel, 3,500-seater Multi-purpose Hall (Dome) and shopping facilities, etc.
Judging from the analytic contents of both, they are not too far apart. While one in Abuja stands on a bigger land mass and being beside a Lake which would give it a more fantastic aesthetics; the Uyo's would be on open land space. Though the number of hotel rooms in Uyo's would be 30 more than that of Abuja , its Dome would also seat more people.
Considering the differences, give and take, each of them may have had something to square up one another, in areas of deficiencies. But what one would not like to gloss over is that while the Uyo's would be costing N33billion, the one at Abuja would cost only N5.5billion; this though is outside the promoters' equity of N2.5billion. One feels that no matter the case, a difference of over N27billion is too much a cost between the two; projects almost similar in nature and quantity. Therefore, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State may have to do more explanation to convince the masses and this to me should also interest the EFCC and ICPC, if they are agencies worth their salts.
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Hold on......! When will we ever wake up to reality? Even at the dawn of a new beginning????? It is absurd to ever imagine that in this time and season, a group could still look us in the face and think we will fall for such cheap pranks....Do they think we're so naive? Construction is no rocket science neither is design being conceived from out of space.....If truly we desire change and sincerely want to embrace it, then there should be an end to embezzlement of public funds in the pretext of infrastructural development(s) of any magnitude. Our leaders must realise that we have come of age and definitely know when we are about to be reaped off. Martin Luther King had a dream....America desired for change, tarried for it and the result was seen in the just concluded presidential elections. Except otherwise, I believe the economy would attend an appreciable status, it is just a matter of time.....Dubai, with all her wonders sprang up from a barren land. Today it has become a land desired to be visited by all. A handful thought of it and used the funds available effectively. Enough has been said, NGR 33B (USD280M) would do far more than we can ever imagive, except we are fundamentally mentally deranged with funds.
I rest my case