The Niger Government has revoked the N70 million contract agreement with Shelter Suit to construct a hotel at Gurara tourist site.

Mr Daniel Kolo, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, disclosed this at a press conference in Minna on Thursday.

Kolo said that Gov. Abubakar Bello gave approval for the revocation of the contract at the weekly State Executive Council meeting.

He said that there was no record of a Memorandum of Understanding between the past administration in the state and the company to acquire 1,105 hectares of land to build a hotel at the Gurara tourist site.

According to him, out of the 1,105 hectares of land acquired by the company, it only paid N70 million for 389 hectares to the state government.

“As government, Gurara water fall is meant for the people of state, we cannot allow individual or group of people to claim ownership of the site.

“For Shelter Suit to say they want to build, operate and own the land is not acceptable.

“As government, we believe in the system of build, operate and transfer because the land belongs to the state.

“Therefore, we cannot allow build, operate and own method,” the commissioner said.

Kolo said that government would meet with Shelter Suit to discuss and pay the money the company had expended as compensation for the land.

He called on investors to come and partner with the state to develop structures at the site to attract more tourists to the state.

The commissioner said that the council also considered the total transfer of Shiroro Hotel to the state government as a result of poor management of the place that had affected patronage.

Koko said that the governor had also ordered an audit of the hotel in view of its interest in acquiring it.

“Government is the largest shareholder of the hotel and we have settled part of the debt that was incurred by government.

“Therefore, since the other shareholders are not willing to invest again in the hotel and make it attractive for patronage, we will meet with them to sell their shares so we will pay them and take full ownership of the hotel,” he said. (NAN)

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