Akwa Ibom governor focuses on tourism projects while assembly rehabilitation lags behind

For nine months, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Complex has been mostly empty. Lawmakers and staff left the premises for rehabilitation that is moving very slowly, despite billions of naira allocated for it.

Just a few metres away, construction workers are busy on three hospitality projects funded by the state government. These projects have a combined budget of N248.83 billion.

PREMIUM TIMES saw these contrasting scenes on 7 August during a visit to the assembly complex and the nearby Ibom International Hotel, International Convention Centre, and ARISE Shopping City. At the assembly complex, there was no construction work happening. A mobile crane and concrete mixer that were there during a visit in June were still on site, but no workers were using them.

The complex still looks the same as it did in June. PREMIUM TIMES reported then that there was little evidence of significant work done more than seven months after lawmakers left.

The difference is clear because the assembly rehabilitation is not a project without funding. Budget documents reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES show that the state government allocated N2.95 billion for the project in its revised 2025 budget and another N12.52 billion in the 2026 budget. This totals N15.47 billion for the rehabilitation and remodelling of the complex.

Nine months, little visible progress

Governor Umo Eno first showed concern for the assembly complex on 1 July 2024 during a visit. He promised to ensure it was rehabilitated. After over a year, the rehabilitation finally moved from promise to action.

In a notice dated 24 October 2025, the Clerk of the House, NsikakAbasi Orok, told lawmakers, staff, and others to vacate the complex for rehabilitation starting on 27 October.

Before they moved out, the contractor’s representatives met with the House Services Committee. Ochemba Lee, the contractor’s representative, called the project a major overhaul. He said the contractor was mobilised and equipment was brought to the site. He promised a six-month completion timeline, which expired in April 2026.

Yet, three months after that deadline, the work is still not finished. Lawmakers are still holding sessions at the Government House. During PREMIUM TIMES’ latest visit, the part of the complex where the roof was removed was still open to the weather. The walls are now showing signs of damage from the elements.

When our reporter visited, some youth were playing football on the field inside the assembly premises. The area should normally be part of a functioning legislature.

Lawmakers blame funding

Recently, PREMIUM TIMES noticed that the field is being used more often for football training and matches. Security personnel were around, but no construction workers were seen.

When PREMIUM TIMES asked a security official if any construction work had taken place since June, he replied in Pidgin English:

"Roads weh don spoil finish across the state, dem never even fix them, na House of Assembly them wan complete? Them no do any single work for here o. Everything here na status quo ante bullum."

We could not confirm the security official’s account independently. However, a close look at the premises and assembly structures showed no new work since the June visit.

Two lawmakers contacted by PREMIUM TIMES said they had talked informally with the contractor about delays, but were told repeatedly that funding was the issue. One lawmaker called the situation embarrassing.

"We have been thoroughly embarrassed that an arm of government has been under lock for over nine months, yet the governor has not acted as if it is important," the lawmaker said.

This lawmaker added, "After 7 July, have you seen us hold any plenary? We postponed plenary several times because we are not happy with how we have been treated."

Another lawmaker worried that this situation might continue as campaigns for the 2027 elections begin. He said, "At this point, that election is around the corner, we are at the mercy of the governor. No one will be ready to confront him over it. You want us to lose our election? Since we are yet to get our financial autonomy, that is the democracy we find ourselves in."

PREMIUM TIMES is not naming the lawmakers because they were not allowed to speak publicly on this issue, and revealing their names could lead to trouble from the governor and assembly leadership.

Contractor questions unresolved

The assembly now holds plenary at the Government House, making what was meant to be a temporary arrangement a long-term substitute for their actual premises. But they have not held plenary since 7 July.

The continued use of the Government House for lawmakers’ meetings raises questions about the cost of maintaining the assembly away from its proper headquarters. PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission had moved their offices to Luton Park Hotel, Uyo, until the rehabilitation is done. The government did not share the cost of this temporary setup.

Questions have also arisen about the contractor for the project. PREMIUM TIMES’ earlier investigation found inconsistencies about the contractor's identity. A relocation notice named JDP Construction Nigeria Limited as the contractor, while signage at the assembly complex identified CLAD Construction Nigeria Limited. Representatives of CLAD Construction also spoke to lawmakers about the project.

Our previous investigation found that CLAD Construction Nigeria Limited was registered on 7 December 2024, less than a year before work on the assembly rehabilitation started. There was no procurement information related to the assembly rehab project on the state’s electronic procurement portal, even though the Akwa Ibom State Public Procurement Law requires such information to be published.

N300m appears under another ministry

The questions surrounding the project now include not just construction delays but also the contractor's identity, procurement processes, payments, project scope, and funding.

Further examination of the state’s 2026 budget raises another question about spending on the assembly rehab. Besides the N12.52 billion for the assembly’s rehabilitation and remodelling, the Ministry of Special Duties has a separate N300 million set aside for "Rehabilitation/Repairs of equipment at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Complex."

It is unclear if the N300 million is linked to the main rehabilitation project or if it is a separate initiative. The government has not clarified how these two budget items relate to each other.

Hospitality projects prioritised

This stalled assembly project is in sharp contrast to the ongoing work at the nearby tourism and hospitality complex. During the PREMIUM TIMES visit on 7 August, workers were busy at the 14-storey Ibom International Hotel, the International Convention Centre, and the ARISE Shopping City.

The hotel project seems to be progressing well. Workers on-site told PREMIUM TIMES they are working day and night to meet a September commissioning deadline set by the governor. They said work inside the hotel is at the fittings stage, while outside work is also nearing completion.

We could not independently confirm the workers’ assessment of completion because we couldn’t access the hotel building. At the International Convention Centre, construction was less advanced compared to the hotel, but workers were still present. Work was also ongoing at the ARISE Shopping City.

These three projects are part of the government’s plan to create a tourism ecosystem in Uyo. The government says this ecosystem will include the 5,000-seat International Convention Centre, the 200-room Ibom Hotel, ARISE Shopping City, and other tourism facilities.

Governor Eno started the reconstruction of the Ibom International Convention Centre and Ibom Hotel in May 2025. He said these facilities are part of efforts to prepare the state for economic growth beyond oil.

N248.83bn tourism fund

Budget documents show that the three projects have a total budget of N248.83 billion for 2025 and 2026. The Ibom International Hotel has N50 billion in the 2025 budget and N11.33 billion in 2026. The International Convention Centre got N70 billion in 2025 and N50 billion in 2026. The ARISE Shopping City received N10 billion in 2025 and N50 billion in 2026.

The government also approved N7.5 billion in 2026 for building a new access road and gatehouse into the Ibom Tropicana complex and completing internal roads there. Combined, all these budget provisions total N248.83 billion.

This funding is significant because these projects are on the same large land that used to be the site of the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre project. This project started in 2008 and was meant to have a 14-storey, 258-room hotel, a 5,000-seat convention centre, a shopping mall, cinema, and theme park.

Initially, the Akpabio administration claimed the project would cost N33 billion. But later reports indicated the cost had risen to about N120 billion. PREMIUM TIMES called it a white elephant after years of slow progress.

Governor Eno has since aimed to revive and redesign parts of the facility as part of his tourism strategy. In June 2024, the state government said Mr Eno had ordered the reclamation of parts of the 82-hectare land acquired for the Tropicana project to finish the abandoned parts.

Question of priorities

The difference between the assembly project and tourism projects raises questions about priorities. The Akwa Ibom State Government is spending hundreds of billions of naira on tourism infrastructure, including facilities that have been incomplete for years. Meanwhile, the state’s legislative arm has been closed for nine months after lawmakers were sent away for rehabilitation.

This situation leads to an unanswered question: why has a project meant to restore the premises of a constitutional body failed to progress despite a six-month completion promise and over N15 billion in budget provisions?

The Akwa Ibom State Government has often highlighted the need for timely project delivery. During a recent tour of Uyo tourism projects, the governor said his administration would ensure that reports on project progress match what is physically happening on the ground.

This raises a tough question about the assembly complex: why are workers visibly rushing to meet deadlines for some projects while equipment sits idle at the legislative complex months after the promised completion date?

Government silent

PREMIUM TIMES reached out to officials responsible for the assembly rehabilitation for answers. We contacted Morgan Ekanem, the Head of Operations of the Direct Labour Committee, but he refused to comment. He also did not respond to a WhatsApp message from the media.

We also called Sylvester Edem, the committee’s Secretary. After we introduced ourselves and the purpose of the call, he said, "Please, I will call back." He never returned the call, and follow-up calls went unanswered. A WhatsApp message sent to him also received no response.

We also tried to reach the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, and the Commissioner for Finance, Emem Bob, who also supervises the Ministry of Special Duties. Neither responded to our calls or messages.

We could not get in touch with CLAD Construction. They do not have a public phone number, and they were not available at their office on Atiku Abubakar Avenue in Uyo.

We specifically asked the government why the assembly project has been unfinished for nine months since the Direct Labour Committee knew the six-month completion timeline would not be met. We wanted to know if the delay was due to funding, procurement, materials, changes in scope, or technical challenges. We also asked for the current completion date.

Revenue versus delivery

The delay happens against a backdrop of rising public revenue in Akwa Ibom under Mr Eno. A PREMIUM TIMES analysis found that between May 2023 and December 2025, Akwa Ibom received N2.53 trillion in revenue, surpassing the total revenue from the previous eight years under former Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The state’s revenue has continued to increase since then. PREMIUM TIMES’ later analysis showed the administration’s revenue reached N2.934 trillion in 38 months.

This significant public revenue makes it harder to explain the long delay at the assembly complex without clear information from the government.

Umo Isuaikoh, coordinator of Peace Point Development Foundation, told PREMIUM TIMES, "The prolonged closure of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Complex raises serious questions about the state government’s commitment to the effective functioning of democratic institutions."

He added that keeping the complex closed for nine months while lawmakers meet at the Government House risks making a temporary solution permanent.

"The legislature is not just another government office that can operate from an alternative location indefinitely," he said.

He stressed that the assembly complex is a public institution built with taxpayers’ money. It is meant to provide a proper environment for lawmakers to discuss, check government policies, and fulfill their duties.

He called on the state government to make the project status public, including the amount spent, the contractor responsible, the original completion timeline, and the reason for the delay.

"Public institutions must be functional, accessible, and accountable. The people deserve to know why a project involving such a crucial part of government has remained unfinished for nine months," Mr Isuaikoh said.

For now, the Assembly remains locked, and plenary has not held for over a month. Lawmakers will likely continue meeting at the Government House when they resume. Meanwhile, the equipment at the complex sits unused. Just a few metres away, workers are rushing to finish projects worth N248.83 billion. With the government having received N2.934 trillion in revenue in 38 months, people are asking why the assembly rehabilitation is delayed. They want to know why, after nine months, this important institution remains stuck while other projects move ahead. They also want to know why the government has not provided a clear explanation regarding a project promised to be finished in six months.