From Saka Bolaji – Minna
The Niger state government has lambasted former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu over alleged deliberate attempt to collapse Shiroro Hotel in Minna which was commissioned by former president Shehu Aliyu Shagari in May, 1981.
The hotel that used to be the pride of northern states has reached an agreement at a stakeholders meeting on Friday to reposition the hotel because its currently operates at a loss.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting held at the hotel , the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism Mr Jonathan Tsado Vatsa said “former Governor Babangida Aliyu deliberately killed the hotel after the masses cried out to the state house of assembly on his plan to sell the hotel to his elder brother failed”.
Vatsa added that the outcry by the people of the state necessitated the abandonment of the edifice and unnecessary approval of over N500 million for the construction of a new hotel that cannot be habituated.
He informed that the state government is ready to buy shares from the stakeholders hence it has 41.9% shares while the rest was acquired by others.
He further said that the hotel management has been directed within three week to come up with a blueprint on how to reposition the hotel to outside world as a destination while urging Nigerlites to return home to invest in the state development as government was ready for partnership.
The commissioner reiterated that the hotel is not dead as insinuated in some quarters, however expressed sadness over the situation it inherited the hotel from the immediate past administration.
He noted that the stakeholders have assured to put in place necessary measures to propelled the hotel.
One of the Director and Stakeholders of the hotel in an interview expressed satisfaction over the out come of the annual meeting which was last held in 2014, just as the challenges and prospect of the hotel was discussed and agreed if any stakeholder can afford to buy off the hotel.
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