Akwa Ibom State government has said that the 146 room FourPoint by Sheraton Hotels located in Ikot Ekpene axis of the state would soon commence operations after it was completed and Commission by the previous administration in the last five years.

It was gathered that the 12 story edifice whose construction started in 2013 was commissioned in an elaborate ceremony by the then Governor Godswill Akpabio shortly before the end of the tenure in 2015.

But the hotel has been criticized by indigenes of the state describing it as a “failed project” because it was yet to commence operations more than five years after it was inaugurated.

The state government has explained that the hotel was not technically completed before commissioning as most of its facilities failed to meet the standard and specifications of the hotel managers, Starwood Group whose franchise was later taken over by Marriott.

Director of Projects in the state Ministry of Special Duties,  Engr Ephraim Udosen told newsmen on Tuesday that the hotel the current administration has done additional work and carried out modifications and upgrades in more than 50 key facilities to meet the standards of the hotel managers who have also opened their recruitment portal to demonstrate their readiness to commence operation this year.

Udosen said the hotel has become one of the most technologically advanced in the country after several facilities were added and modifications and upgrades carried out in several of its facilities including the power installations, water treatment process, fire suppression and lighting systems, cooling system, and ICT, in line with the requirements of the hotel managers.

He said the present administration constructed the parking lots, 310m access and link roads around the hotel, completed outstanding landscaping, procured transformers with switchgear, and constructed dedicated power supply lines from the National Grid to the Hotel, ensuring availability of constant power supply.

It also purchased thousands of equipment, furniture, and utensils and procured all outstanding Operating Supplies and Equipment (OS & E), Furniture Fittings and Equipment (FF&E), and Information Technology (IT) infrastructure under the agreed US $7.2m released to the Hotel operator.

He maintained that the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel has provided the first phase of the Hotel Guest Room Management System (GRMS) involving the incorporation of setback temperature control devices in all guest rooms Fan Coil Units (FCUs) and certification of all installed Plants, Equipment and Systems like Lifts, Boilers, Chillers, Firefighting Equipment/Systems, Water Quality (Potable, Swimming Pool, Chill Water), etc by third parties as recommended by Marriott.

Others include installation of bomb blast films in all entrance glasses, replacement of Failed Mineral Surface Membrane (FELT) to waterproof the concrete roof deck gutters of the main Hotel roof floor and mechanical floor, and provision of additional PH correction dosing station for further purification of domestic water supply to the Hotel.

“We also installed Automatic Fire Suppression System (FM200), 20KVA inverter system and additional 12,000 BTU/Hr (3.5kw) – split wall type AC system in the IT room and procured active switches/accessories for the IP close circuit cameras to complete the installation of the CCTV system of the Hotel.

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“To tell you how committed Governor Udom Emmanuel is to this project, he ensured that the maintenance contract was awarded to the original contractors to ensure continuity. The only hindrance now is in attaining the high standards of the hotel. managers in certain areas and in this regard we have attained between 97% and 98%.” He explained.

The FourPoint by Sheraton Hotel alongside the Tropicana Entertainment Complex were the two multi-billion Naira entertainment and recreational projects embarked upon by the Godswill Akpabio’s administration.