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Ibrahim Shuaibu

The owners of the Grand Central Hotel Kano, Broadfields Intermediaries Limited has said it spent bulk of the investments of over N1.6 billion on the re-furbishing of facilities under the phase one of the hotel’s development plans.

The Chairman of the hotel, Nasser Ahmed, said the investment which entails recovery of 113 rooms was to ensure that the hotel fully commences operations in line with the privatisation policy of the Federal Government.

Ahmed said it had so far invested about N3 billion in the turning around of the hotel, since assuming ownership of the business entity.

Conducting round the minister in charge of National Planning Commission (NPC), and member of National Council on Privatisation (NCP), Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, who is on assessment visit to the hotel, explaining the development profiles of the hotel that the company had completed the first phase of the re-furbishing of the hotel, and has put in place necessary mechanism for the execution of the second phase of the development plans.

Naseer said:  “We have finished the first phase of the re-furbishing of 113 in 2012, and now operating under the Grand Central Hotel brand. The second phase is commencing this year and will be finished by the end of 2014.

“The third phase of the post-acquisition plan will commence thereafter, and then we will have a private placement /public offer to increase the capital base to refinance the costs and spread ownership amongst desiring investors”.

The Grand central hotel chairman added that the plan of the new owner of the of the brand was to restore it to pride of place as the most preferred hotel in the Northern part of the country, and the nation at large.

“In order to make Kano a destination friendly town with the domino effect on the city, a redevelopment of Central Hotel of previous glory is the key. Kano with its glorious history of over 1000 years must simply be made one of the most sought after destination towns in Africa.

He appealed to the federal government to initiate a funding intervention for indigenous hotel brands in the country as a way of assisting them to bridge the challenges hampering the growth and development of the industry.

He added: “Our vision is that we would rebuild the hotel as a strong brand capable of generating income, sustainable growth, employment generation and growth to other cities of Nigeria. We also intend putting in place quality facilities that would compete with the best brands in the sector.”

On the challenges confronting hotel business in the country,  the chairman of the hotel said it included high cost of borrowing as well as the prevailing state of insecurity in the country.

Remarking, the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, commended “Broad Field Intermediaries Limited”, for turning the fortune of the hotel around for better after its privatisation.

Usman expressed surprise that the Central Hotel which was left to be ground had been resuscitated by the new owners, while assured the hotel of the Federal Government support in addressing some of the issues raised in area of challenges confronting its operations and sustainable growth.

The minister also charged the hotel owner to continue with the good work being done in re-positioning it as well as ensure that it translated into more employment opportunities.