Residents of Aba’s business community, particularly within the Ogbor Hill axis, alongside government officials and industry leaders across Abia State, turned out in large numbers on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, to witness the commissioning of the reconstructed Ovom Road and the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed five-star Enyimba-Radisson Hotel.
The twin projects, located in the once-devastated Ovom area of Aba – Abia’s commercial hub – mark a significant milestone in the urban renewal drive of Governor Alex Otti’s administration.
For decades, the Ovom axis had been ravaged by a massive 42-metre-deep gully erosion stretching over 600 metres, leaving the area largely abandoned by successive governments. The Enyimba Hotel project, originally initiated in 1972 by the then Administrator of the former East Central State, Ajie Ukpabi Asika, and later advanced by former Imo State Governor Sam Mbakwe in 1983, had also stalled for over four decades.
Gov Otti laying foundation for Enyimba-Radisson Hotel.
At the ceremony, Governor Otti officially performed the groundbreaking for the reconstruction of the long-abandoned hotel project under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement with global hospitality brand Radisson Blu. The facility has now been renamed Enyimba-Radisson Hotel.
Describing the transformation of Ovom as remarkable, Governor Otti said the once-hopeless situation has been reversed within a short period.
“Just a few years ago, the situation at Ovom was seemingly hopeless, but in less than two years, we filled a 42-metre gully stretching over 600 metres – large enough to swallow an eight-storey building,” he said.
“With rigid pavement technology and proper environmental control measures, we have not only ended what could have been an interminable disaster but also prevented a recurrence of such an environmental nightmare.”
The governor disclosed that over the past 33 months, strategic investments had been made to align Aba’s business environment with the demands of a five-star hospitality ecosystem. He assured that the 120-room hotel and a world-class convention centre would be delivered within 12 months.
According to him, projections indicate that within four years, the venture would expand into a 250-room five-star facility catering to both local and international guests.
Governor Otti paid tribute to past leaders and business figures who kept the Enyimba Hotel dream alive, including members of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) and notable stakeholders such as Nze Clement O. Maduako, Chief Leo Ike Okoye, Chief Dr. S. C. Okolo, Chief Sam Ejimofor, and Lord Chief Dike Udensi. He announced that previous investors in the project had been allocated shares in the new development. A minute of silence was observed in honour of deceased contributors.
Ovom Road
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Greater Aba Development Authority, Architect Uche Ukeje, recalled the governor’s 2024 visit to the erosion site and his promise to reclaim the area. He expressed optimism that Aba is on course to becoming a preferred destination for global tourism and commerce.
Also speaking, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe representing Abia South, commended Governor Otti for what he described as transformative leadership, noting that the Ovom Road project reflects the administration’s commitment to improving residents’ quality of life.
On behalf of Radisson Blu, Senior Director, Development – Africa, Erwan Garnier, described the project as a strong signal that Abia is ready for global partnerships, assuring that the hotel would meet international standards.
The contractor for the Ovom Road project, Chief Ifeanyi Okorie, recalled the life-threatening condition of the area prior to the intervention and praised the governor for reclaiming the entire stretch and restoring safety.
Other dignitaries, including the Board Chairman of the Greater Aba Development Authority, Ide John Udeagbala; Aba North Mayor, Timothy Iheke; and Chief Leo Ike Okoye, lauded the administration’s infrastructural drive and pledged continued support for the governor’s development agenda.
Enyimba-Radisson Hotel under construction