The Kwara state House of Assembly has cleared the air, that it did not transmit the approval of a concession for the renovation of Kwara Hotels Ltd to Crystal Group, hinging its decision on the emergence of vital information which the parliament received, suggesting Crystal Group’s incompetence to handle renovation and management of the legacy hotel.
It can be recalled that the Kwara state government, through Harmony Holdings Limited – a state owned investment management venture, had sought legislative approval for a concession arrangement in favor of Crystal Group for renovation and management of the hotel for a period of 15years, and initial investment of N3million for an incremental renovation and management contract, stating with one of three wings of the hotel.
The Kwara state government however awarded the renovation contract for Kwara Hotel to a Lebanese company – Craneburg construction, stating that the Assembly did not communicate approval in favor of Crystal Group’s concession proposal.
The State Assembly, during its plenary on Tuesday, under ‘Matter of General Public Importance’ raised by the Majority Leader, Hon. Abdulkadir Oba Magaji confirmed that indeed, the purported approval for concession in favor of Crystal Group was not comminuted to the Kwara state Governor.
Hon. Abdulkadir Oba Magaji (Ilorin Central), relied on Order VII, Rule 40 of the House Rules to emphasize the need to review the parliamentary position on the approval earlier granted for the concession of Kwara Hotels to Crystal house by Harmony Holdings.
He noted the imperative of the need to clarify that notwithstanding the approval of the Assembly on the subject matter (Kwara Hotel), “the Kwara Assembly did not communicate the approval to the Executive arm because of the emergence of some vital pieces of information on the incompetence of Crystal Group of Companies under whose supervision a building collapsed in its outlet along Sulu Gambari Road, Ilorin, to be entrusted with a project of huge magnitude as the Kwara Hotel.
“The resolution of the House on the approval remained advisory as the Executive reserves the prerogative not to proceed with the concession if it was thought to be against the general public interest”, Oba-Magaji reiterated.
Hon. Abdulahi Halidu Danbaba (Kaiama/Kemanji/Wajibe), Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Rasaq( Share/Oke-Ode), Saba Yisa Gideon (Edu), Hon. Yusuf Mariam (Ilorin South), Hon. Bamigboye Joseph Olajire (Oke- Ero), Hon. Lawal Ariola Fatimoh (Ilorin East), and Hon. Rukayat Motunrayo Shittu (Owode/Onire), also contributed in line with Oba-Magaji’s position.
Consequently, the Kwara state House of Assembly resolved that it aligns itself with the decision of the Kwara State Government to award the contract for the Rehabilitation of Kwara Hotels to a more competent contractor, Craneburg Construction Company and the resolution supersedes the earlier one, made by the Assembly in favor of Crystal Group of Companies.
The legislature also urge the Crystal Group of Companies to discontinue any act capable of tarnishing the image of and blackmailing the government and misinforming the public on the subject matter.
