The Ebonyi State Government has sealed the three-star Golden Synergy Apartments and Suites, situated at No. 4 Anikpe Street, off Udensi Road, Abakaliki, following alleged violations of urban development and physical planning regulations.
NATIONAL PANEL gathered that the hotel is allegedly owned by the Executive Chairman of Ezza North Local Government Area, Chief Moses Ogodo-Ali Nome.
Officials from the Ministry of Capital City and Urban Development carried out the enforcement action on Friday after receiving intelligence 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.
Briefing journalists after the operation, the State Commissioner for Capital City Development, Chief Sunday Elechi Inyima, 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.
In a related development, the commissioner announced the suspension of a town planner in the ministry, Mr. Geoffrey Eze, for two months over alleged dereliction of duty in connection with the unauthorised construction.
He reiterated the state government’s resolve to enforce physical planning regulations without fear or favour, noting that the action forms part of a broader effort to restore order, safety, and sustainability in Abakaliki’s rapidly expanding urban environment.
Efforts to reach the alleged owner and management of the hotel while filing this report proved abortive.
