More insights has been made into the reason behind the sealing of three-star Golden Synergy Apartments and Suites, situated at No. 4 Anikpe Street, off Udensi Road, Abakaliki, by agent of Ebonyi State Government.
The Times News gathered that the hotel believed have been owned by the Chairman of Ezza North Local Government Area, Moses Ogodo Ali Nome, was sealed due to an alleged violations of urban development and physical planning regulations.
Recall that officials from the Ministry of Capital City and Urban Development carried out the enforcement action on Friday after receiving intelligence report that the hotel management had commenced construction of an additional multi-storey structure within the premises without securing the required statutory approvals from the state government.
Chief Sunday Elechi Inyima, State Commissioner for Capital City Development,disclosed that the hotel had initially obtained approval for its existing four-storey main building. However, the commissioner said the management proceeded to erect another structure in clear violation of the state’s development control laws.
He noted that the unapproved structure had risen to nearly four floors despite lacking a valid planning permit and failing to comply with mandatory development standards, particularly those governing setback provisions, land coverage ratios, and parking requirements.
“In any organised urban environment, only about 25 to 30 per cent of a parcel of land is expected to be developed. What we have here is a situation where the entire land area has been built up, leaving no space for parking and other essential auxiliary facilities,” Inyima said.
He described the development as a deliberate and flagrant breach of planning regulations, stressing that no individual or corporate entity is permitted to erect any structure within the capital city without final approval from the ministry.
The commissioner announced that the facility had been sealed and all guests evacuated to ensure full compliance with the enforcement directive, while further construction on the unapproved building was ordered to cease immediately.
He added that the hotel management had been presented with two options: either to demolish the illegal structure or to acquire additional adjoining land sufficient to meet the minimum statutory requirements for parking and other non-residential facilities.
“The hotel will remain sealed and will not be reopened until all stipulated conditions are fully met. Any attempt to resume operations without compliance will be treated as a serious offence,” Inyima warned.
He further disclosed that the management of the facility had been invited to a formal meeting with the ministry, where further decisions would be taken based on documentary evidence and concrete compliance commitments.
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