By Moshood Adebayo
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered the termination of a multi-billion naira 48-bedroom hotel project in Badagry, just as he blacklisted the company handling the construction.
The project, being promoted as part of measures by the Ambode-led administration to boost tourism within the Badagry axis, was awarded in 2013 to Messrs Anatolia International Limited.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, quoted the governor as saying the decision to terminate the contract followed a resolution taken at the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday after an appraisal of progress report on the project.
He said the pace of work at the project site was not commensurate with the amount already released
Also, the governor cited inefficiency and poor performance by the contractor as part of the reasons for the contract termination.
“The inability of Messrs Anatolia International Limited to key into the vision of the current administration, as part of the efforts to fast-track the development of its tourism sector, necessitated the decision of the state executive council to terminate the contract,”
He said the administration was resolved in its avowed mission to bring rapid infrastructural development to the state in a manner that gives zero-tolerance to insouciance and inefficiency.
However, he maintained that one of the major policy thrusts of the administration is tourism and hospitality sector development, adding the government had left no one in doubt about its resolve to grow the state’s economy and empower the youths through several alternative means, including tactical promotion of tourism, entertainment and sports.