The long-abandoned Hotel Presidential in Enugu has been restored to its former glory as Governor Peter Mbah officially unveiled the reconstructed landmark on Thursday, describing the revival of the 62-year-old edifice as “a homecoming for history.”
The hotel, originally established by the late Dr. Michael Okpara, Premier of the defunct Eastern Region, had remained in ruins for nearly 15 years until Mbah’s administration stepped in. Speaking at the unveiling, the governor hailed Okpara’s foresight and declared that the revival was part of his campaign promise to recover moribund assets and expand Enugu’s economy sevenfold.
“Sixty-two years ago, our forebears under the visionary leadership of Dr. Michael Okpara built this landmark as a symbol of Eastern Region’s resilience, elegance and enterprise,” Mbah said.
“Over the decades, time and neglect dimmed that light. For about 15 years, this glorious edifice stood as an affront to our pride, as something contrary to what we represent. We came into office with a strong pledge: to recover what belongs to our people, convert dormant assets into productive assets; turn liabilities into engines of growth.”
The governor stressed that the unveiling symbolised more than the opening of a hotel.
“This is the reopening of Enugu’s confidence. It is a tangible sign that when we say Enugu is open for business, we mean business. This hotel is a strategic enabler of our growth plan, comprising the ambitious target to grow Enugu’s economy seven-fold to at least $30 billion and to achieve a zero percent poverty headcount rate,” he said.
According to Mbah, the revamp was executed to world-class standards to ensure Enugu’s hospitality sector matches its investment drive.
“Our hospitality ecosystem today is simply inspiring: the 5,000-seat International Conference Centre (ICC) now anchors Enugu’s conferencing ambitions; the adjacent 5-star, 345-room ICC Hotel under construction will deliver premium ‘keys’ for large events; Enugu Air, which has given wings to our dreams and announced the scale of our vision to the world; and now, the renewed Hotel Presidential adds a full-service icon back into the mix.”
He emphasized that these were not isolated projects but interconnected efforts to position Enugu as Africa’s conferencing hub.
“These assets are crucial to our aim to welcome up to three million annual tourist visits and to make Enugu the Conferencing Capital of Africa,” Mbah added.
The economic impact, he said, was already visible, citing hundreds of new jobs in hospitality, culinary services, events, engineering, landscaping, transport, and supply chains.
“And the signal to investors is even bigger: when government shows it can recover assets, fix the fundamentals, and protect investments, private capital follows,” the governor stated.
Mbah thanked Amber Hospitality, the managers and concessionaire of the hotel, for their confidence in Enugu’s potential. He also commended contractors Dilworth, as well as successive Commissioners of Works, Infrastructure, Culture, and Tourism for their efforts in bringing the project to reality.
In her remarks, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, described the reopening as a turning point for the state.
“The silence has been broken; the lights are on — never to dim again; the doors are open — never to shut again; and the spirit of Enugu is back, stronger and brighter than ever,” she declared.
Former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Sunday Onyebuchi, praised Mbah for blending innovation with restoration.
“Your mantra says that tomorrow is here, but you have resurrected yesterday today,” Onyebuchi said.
Traditional leaders also weighed in. The Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Samuel Asadu, noted the governor’s pace of development, citing recent achievements such as the commissioning of Enugu Air, five transport terminals, 100 CNG buses, and now the Hotel Presidential.
“If you are not tired of commissioning projects, we will not be tired of coming out. We have never seen it this way. Your leadership in Enugu State is legendary and monumental. There is no vacancy in Lion Building in 2027,” the royal father said.
The Chairman of Enugu North LGA, Dr. Ibenaku Onoh, also applauded the governor’s transformative leadership, pledging the people’s continued support.
