The Anambra State Government today announced that it would immediately commence the building of a shopping mall at the site of the old Ikenga Hotel in Awka, the state capital, the only remaining structure burnt down in 2004 that is yet to be rebuilt. It also announced that work would at the same time start on the Lake Hotel and Convention Centre in Agulu, still in the Awka Capital Territory.

Conducting some expatriates believed to be representatives of the companies working on the projects round the premises, Obi said that the idea of a shopping mall at the old Ikenga was in response to the need for a befitting shopping mall in Awka.

At the Agulu site of the Lake Hotel and Convention Centre, the Governor said that the project was in response to the calls since the time of Chief Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo in the old Anambra State for the development of the tourist potentials of the lake.

“Many big organisations wanted to hold their Annual General Meetings in Awka Capital Territory but were deterred by the absence of befitting hotels and convention centres. with the Onitsha Hotel and Convention Centre going on, as well as the one at Agulu which we shall start in few days, I can assure you that the state would now have adequate and befitting facilities to hold any type of conference and house those coming from overseas conveniently,” Obi said.

Speaking on the availability of resources and enough time to complete the projects, the governor said that his administration did not just wake up to think about these projects as they were planned. His words: “We have conceived them since and saved enough money to see them through. Just watch and see what will happen. Not just these two, we are starting the Governor’s Lodge, Legislative and Judiciary buildings in few days. We have the resources to execute them. We have the resources to aggressively execute and complete the many projects, including road projects we are working on.”

Governor Obi assured that his government would not relent in its faithfulness to implementing the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy by continuing to develop all sectors simultaneously, including the areas of commerce and tourism.

•Photo: Governor Obi.