*Asks managers to submit bills for upfront payment
The Imo State government has requested the management of all hotels in Owerri metropolis to reserve their rooms for its use regardless of sizes and classification.
In a memo marked MTC&CA/S.76/Vol.1/T/90 dated October 25, 2023 and addressed to “All Chief Executive Officers of Hotels in Owerri Metropolis; All General Managers of Hotels in Owerri Metropolis”, and signed by the State’s Commissioner of Tourism, Barr. Jerry Egbule Egemba, the government requested for the reservation from November 4 to November 12, 2023.
The memo further requested the hotel managements to submit “details of your accommodation bills for all the rooms covering the period for payment”.
Already, some residents of the State, especially members of the opposition parties, have interpreted the request as a tactic by the government under Senator Hope Uzodinma to deny election observers and members of Civil Society Organisations any place to stay while observing the November 11 governorship election.
Some claim that the government might squander over N5billion of the State’s money to accomplish its plan not minding if the hotel rooms would be occupied or not.