The Senior Special Assistant to Abia State Governor on Tourism and Entertainment, Mr. Okey Justice Martins has reacted to news reports making rounds that the state government has failed to promote the tourism potentials accruable in the state including the Ojukwu bunker and war museum all located in the state capital, Umuahia.
Martins while reacting to the news on different blogs revealed that most monuments in Abia were leased to different private individuals by the then Obasanjo administration which makes it difficult for the state government to develop but maintained that the state government’s efforts at promoting the tourism and entertainment sectors remains unflinching.
According to him ” I have read stories on different blogs blaming the state government for not tapping into the tourism sectors of the state especially revamping the Ojukwu bunker and war museum which are ancient monuments that could attract tourists and at the same time increase the revenue generation of the state but unfortunately we discovered these monuments were leased to private individuals who appear to be making it difficult for us to move further”.
“However, this does not negate the fact that as a state we are doing everything possible to develop the tourism and entertainment sectors of the state and in the coming days our people would appreciate what we have done in the past one year”, he added.
The tourism and entertainment aide to the governor maintained that investors are already trooping into the state to invest in the sector and highlighted that plans are underway to make Abia a tourism destination in Nigeria.
Martins who also reacted to the reports that the state government has beautiful plans on paper which are not implemented noted that proper planning is key to achieving whatever change any institution desires. He insisted that sooner than later, the impacts of those plans would be felt while calling on Abians especially those who desire a tourism and entertainment sector to beat to join hands with his office to build a sector everyone would be proud of.
