By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
The Cross River State Government has commenced extensive renovations of presidential lodges in Calabar after years of neglect, ahead of a proposed visit by President Bola Tinubu.
The President is expected to visit the state to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport project and is reportedly interested in spending about two nights in Calabar.
Chief Emmanuel Ironbar, Chief of Staff to Governor Bassey Otu, disclosed the renovation plans when he received a delegation of bishops from the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star in his office at the weekend.
Ironbar said the government was undertaking the repairs to provide suitable accommodation for the President and members of his entourage.
He, however, stressed that the exercise was not solely motivated by Tinubu’s anticipated visit but was also intended to restore the aesthetics, dignity and prestige of the state’s public infrastructure.
According to him, some of the lodges had deteriorated significantly after being left unattended by previous administrations.
The renovation comes amid concerns over the state’s capacity to accommodate high-profile visitors in befitting government facilities.
A previous visit by the Oba of Benin, who reportedly travelled with his traditional entourage, saw him lodge in a hotel rather than a government facility.
The Otu administration has also undertaken renovations at the Governor’s Office and other government facilities as part of efforts to improve public infrastructure across the state.
The refurbishment of the presidential lodges is expected to improve the state’s capacity to host visiting dignitaries, although the date of Tinubu’s proposed visit has yet to be confirmed.
