CSO demands probe of Akwa Ibom state-owned hotel management
Civil Society Group Calls for Investigation into Akwa Ibom’s Ibom Hotel Management
UYO, Nigeria — The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), a civil society organization, is urging an immediate investigation into the management practices of the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort as the facility approaches its 19th year of operation.
In a public notice, the Akwa Ibom State government announced plans to temporarily close the hotel on August 22, 2026, to facilitate ongoing renovations and prepare for the transfer of management to a private hospitality firm.
CHRAN expressed concern that the government’s efforts to improve the hotel’s performance are insufficient without a thorough financial examination. In a statement issued on Wednesday, CHRAN’s Director, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, and Secretary for Research and Documentation, Comrade Etimbuk Ekpenyong, emphasized the need for accountability.
They noted that the hotel has struggled to meet its potential as a premier tourism destination, despite various management changes and rebranding efforts. The organization highlighted remarks made by Governor Umo Eno, who acknowledged at a public event that the facility has consistently operated at a financial loss.
The statement outlined specific recommendations, calling on the Akwa Ibom State government to initiate an independent financial audit of the hotel. This audit would review the facility’s entire management history, examining how revenues were generated, accounted for, and utilized, to establish the hotel’s true financial status prior to the management transition.
Additionally, CHRAN proposed a personnel audit to evaluate the hotel’s staffing and management structure over the past 19 years. This audit would assess the decision-making processes behind staffing and the adequacy of skills and competencies in place, which may have contributed to the hotel’s underperformance.
Finally, CHRAN urged a comprehensive investigation into the reasons behind the hotel’s repeated struggles under various brand management arrangements. Understanding these failures is crucial to developing a new management framework that will prevent future setbacks under the incoming Aleph Hospitality brand.
CHRAN emphasized that the proposed audits and investigations are not simply fault-finding initiatives, but necessary steps to ensure the new management regime is set up for success.