By Rhoda Godwin
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has expressed optimism over the timely completion of the five-star Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre in Yenagoa, projecting its commissioning for December 2026.
Ogbe gave the assurance while addressing top executives of Edison Corporation and Megastar Technical and Construction Company at the end of a one-day project management tour and workshop held at the Nigerian Content Tower in Swali, Yenagoa.
Describing the project as a critical investment, the NCDMB boss said the Board considers the hotel a top priority and pledged close monitoring to ensure timely delivery. “This project is critical to the Board, critical to Yenagoa, and to Bayelsa State and Nigeria,” Ogbe stated. “With this hotel becoming functional at the end of the year, I believe there will be tourism in Bayelsa State; and that’s one of my dreams.”
He further revealed that since assuming office in December 2024, he had been determined to see the project through. “When I took up this job, I said I must make this hotel work,” he added.
Ogbe commended both Edison Corporation and the contractors for the pace and quality of work so far but stressed that significant responsibility rests on them to meet agreed timelines. According to him, major issues surrounding financing, scope of work, and contracting strategies have largely been resolved, positioning the project for uninterrupted progress.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Edison Corporation, Vivian Reddy, expressed excitement over the partnership with the NCDMB, noting that the project would elevate Yenagoa’s global visibility.
“Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre, Yenagoa, will put this place on the world map,” Reddy said. He explained that the involvement of Radisson Hotel Group would ensure international recognition, as the brand’s global network would make the hotel easily visible to travelers worldwide.
“If anyone around the world looks for Radisson Yenagoa, they will see this place pop up, and it’s going to help to uplift the area in terms of visitors and tourism,” he noted.
Speaking to journalists, Reddy assured that his company would deliver a world-class facility, stating, “Our role is to make sure we deliver a world-class quality hotel; from start to finish, we will open the hotel and furnish it.”
He disclosed that securing the partnership with Radisson was a rigorous process that took over 18 months of negotiations and extensive documentation. According to him, the commitment of a globally recognized brand signals strong confidence in the economic potential of Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta region.
Reddy also praised Ogbe’s leadership, describing him as “a great visionary” whose ambition for the project would soon become reality. He expressed confidence in the technical competence of the contractors and professional teams handling the project.
The NCDMB, in a statement signed by its General Manager of Corporate Communications, Obinna Ezeobi, said the hotel 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 tourism and economic activities in Bayelsa State and the wider Niger Delta.
