By Jude Njoku
Hotel Presidential, Enugu, was one of the first post-
independence iconic buildings built as part of the Late Dr.
Michael Okpara’s industrialisation plan for the defunct
Eastern region. Now, the hotel has been concessioned to
Messrs E-Hospitality Services Limited, EHSL, with a
mandate to bring the hotel back to life and upgrade it to
world class standards.
The proposed redevelopment concept which involves
reconfiguring and modernising the existing hotel facilities, is
expected to cost N4 billion on completion in 2017. EHSL will
undertake redevelopment of the hotel through a special
purpose company – Primeview Hotels Limited. EHSL will
also engage a suitable international hotel management
company to operate the hotel after renovation.
Vanguard Homes & Property learnt that Primeview has
already taken possession of the facility and concluded
preliminary surveys and assessments including a structural
integrity test carried out by Sanni Ojo and Partners, a
leading firm of structural engineers. The results of the tests
have been positive. The concessionaire has also assembled
a team of design and engineering consultants and produced
a redevelopment concept.
A contractor has also been mobilised to the site and has
commenced stripping of the hotel in preparation for the
redevelopment works. The proposed redevelopment concept
involves reconfiguring and modernising the existing hotel
facilities such as restaurants, conferencing facility, outdoor
swimming pool, four tennis courts and increasing the stock
of rooms from 100 to 150 rooms. In additio, a family leisure
centre will be incorporated and the number of restaurants
and other elements increased in line with the requirements
of the preferred hotel manager.
It is expected that the main contract for the redevelopment
will be awarded in the last quarter of this year (2015) and
the hotel ready to be opened by the second quarter of 2017.
Hotel Presidential sits on prime land within the
Independence Layout in Enugu and is approximately 15
minutes by car from the Enugu International airport.
At the time it was open to the public, the hotel offered 100
rooms on four floors with recreational facilities such as
swimming pools, tennis courts and a night club. These
memories however quickly fade once the reality of the
hotel’s current state of disrepair is revealed. Many years of
poor management, particularly during the years of military
rule, culminated in a complete rundown of the hotel and its
subsequent closure;
In a bid to remedy the situation, the current Enugu State.
Government, sought proposals from private sector investors
willing to invest in the redevelopment of the Hotel as well as
manage it under an international hotel brand name. After
due consideration of a number of proposals from private
sector investors, the concession was granted to EHSL.
EHSL which claimed to have done extensive research, noted
the lack of international standard hospitality services in the
South-East. “Given the strong demand for quality hotel,
leisure and conferencing facilities in the region, EHSL aims
to breach this supply gap by providing what would be
undoubtedly the premier business and leisure facility in the
South-East zone when completed.
EHSL also expects that with the growing foreign direct
investments, FDI flowing into the zone and the
commencement of direct international flights into Enugu
airport and significant foreign traveller traffic, the Hotel
would become the destination of choice,” the company said
in a press statement.
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