Imo State Government, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has given the reason why his administration closed down the popular Concorde Hotel, Owerri.

“The truth of the matter is that the government temporarily closed down the hotel for intensive renovation to take place to meet the standard the government had envisaged, abinitio,” Okorocha said this morning through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo.

According to Onwuemeodo in a statement made available to News Express, “The initial renovation work carried out by the state government soon after taking over the administration of the state did not meet the standard the government expected. The governor came to know about that when he inspected the hotel for the accommodation of the members of the Nigeria Guild of editors who had their conference in May in Owerri for three days.

“When they left, the government decided to do more works in the hotel because between the months of August and September, this year, the state will be hosting the Nigeria Bar Association led by Chief Nwali, and the National Media Merit Award [NMMA] ceremony. The hotel will also be in use. Hence, the thorough renovation expected this time.

“There is no other reason that would have warranted the closure of the hotel except the renovation I have talked about. The hotel is the property of the state government and it has the responsibility to upgrade it or raise its standard whenever it desires.”

Onwuemeodo dismissed claims that Concorde Hotel staff are being owed arrears of salary. “The three months salary arrears owed the staff have been cleared. We want to be proved wrong on this,” he said, adding:

“Some workers of the hotel are complaining because the management had given indication that because of the high level of sabotage in the hotel, there would be a second look at the record of the individual staff once the hotel is reopened for business.

“Those talking about the non-payment of the staff of the hotel should get the fact and make it public to prove their claim. The state government would continue to do the best for the state not minding the refusal or failure of the opposition in the state to acknowledge such lofty works.”

•Photo shows Concorde Hotel, Owerri.