By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has expressed strong optimism over the timely completion of the five-star Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, projecting its commissioning for December 2026.
Ogbe shared this assurance while hosting top executives from South Africa’s Edison Corporation and Megastar Technical and Construction Company at the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT) in Swali, Yenagoa. The visit marked the end of a one-day project management tour and workshop.
Describing the hotel as a top priority for the Board, Ogbe emphasized his personal commitment to the project’s success, noting that he monitors its progress consistently.
“This project is critical to the Board, to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and Nigeria at large,” he said. “With the hotel becoming operational by the end of the year, I believe it will significantly boost tourism in Bayelsa State. That has always been one of my key dreams.”
Reflecting on his appointment in December 2024, Ogbe added, “When I assumed office, I made it clear that this hotel must become a reality.”
He commended Edison Corporation and the project contractor for the quality and pace of work, while stressing the importance of meeting delivery timelines. According to him, most critical project elements—including financing strategies, scope adjustments, and structural planning—have been resolved, paving the way for uninterrupted progress.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Edison Corporation, Mr. Vivian Reddy, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with NCDMB, assuring that the facility would deliver world-class standards.
“Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre, Yenagoa, will put this location on the global map,” Reddy said. “With Radisson’s international network, anyone searching for Radisson Yenagoa anywhere in the world will find it, and that visibility will drive tourism and investment.”
He further assured that his company would oversee the project from start to finish, including furnishing and final delivery, in collaboration with the main contractor to ensure global quality standards are met.
Reddy revealed that securing the partnership with Radisson Hotels Group was a rigorous process that took over 18 months of negotiations and extensive documentation.
“Bringing Radisson here wasn’t easy—it required months of discussions and thousands of pages of documentation. But their commitment to this project is a strong vote of confidence in the region,” he noted.
The Edison CEO also praised Ogbe’s leadership, describing him as a visionary whose ambition for the project would soon become reality.
“We are committed to supporting his vision. This will be the best hotel in the region,” he added, while also commending the contractors and technical teams for their professionalism.
Other members of the Edison Corporation and Radisson International delegation included Brian Sibusiso Mpono and Govindasami Monogren.
According to a statement issued by the NCDMB’s General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, the Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre, Yenagoa, is designed to meet global five-star standards. It is expected to serve as a strategic hub for conferences, investor engagements, and high-level business meetings, ultimately boosting economic activities in Bayelsa State and the wider Niger Delta region.
