Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed concern over the abandonment of several development projects he initiated during his time as Governor of Bayelsa State. He revealed that many of those projects were left unfinished after he became Vice President under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Jonathan spoke on Wednesday at the official opening of the Best Western Plus Hotel, a modern hospitality facility located by the Oxbow Lake in Yenagoa. He noted that one of the major challenges facing state governance in Nigeria is the lack of continuity, where incoming administrations often neglect projects started by their predecessors, even when public funds have already been invested.
He commended the management of Best Western Plus for bringing a globally recognised brand to Bayelsa, describing the project as a welcome development that would boost the state’s tourism and business potential. Jonathan recalled his administration’s efforts to promote private investment in hospitality, explaining that his goal was to make Yenagoa a more attractive destination for visitors and investors.
He reminisced about the early years of Bayelsa when his former boss, Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, hosted international events such as the African Movie Awards, which attracted guests from across the world. According to him, many visitors at the time lodged in Port Harcourt because Bayelsa lacked standard hotels capable of accommodating them.
Jonathan explained that during his tenure as governor, he made efforts to change that situation by supporting local hotel owners to upgrade their facilities. “We provided loans of about ten to fifteen million naira to hotel operators to improve their standards, and they were expected to pay back. Unfortunately, after I left office, no one followed up on repayment or continued the initiative,” he said.
He added that his government had also awarded contracts for the construction of three hotels — including the Tower Hotel and two three-star facilities — to expand the state’s hospitality capacity. “If those hotels had been completed, Bayelsa would today have enough quality accommodation for visitors,” he lamented, blaming the discontinuation of those projects on lack of political will by successive administrations.
The commissioning ceremony also featured remarks from the Executive Director of the hotel, Mrs Initeme Aduke Eromhonsele, and its founder, Dr Harcourt Aduke, who both described the establishment as a fusion of luxury, comfort, and modern design. They highlighted the hotel’s stunning lakefront view of the Oxbow Lake, which offers guests a tranquil and scenic experience.
The launch of Best Western Plus Hotel, an affiliate of the renowned Best Western brand, marks another milestone in Yenagoa’s rise as a growing center for tourism, investment, and premium hospitality within the Niger Delta.
Governor Douye Diri, who also attended the event, praised the vision and commitment of the hotel’s founder for investing in the state’s economy. He described the project as a landmark addition to Bayelsa’s hospitality landscape, one that would create jobs, strengthen local enterprise, and enhance the overall image of the state.
