The Abia State Government has expressed its determination to collaborate with the Federal Government in order to revive and refurbish the national museums and monuments across the state.
Dr. Justice Martins, the Senior Special Assistant(SSA) on Tourism and Entertainment to the Governor of Abia, made this known in a statement to newsmen in Umuahia on Monday.
The SSA popularly known as J. Martins, who paid a courtesy visit to Prof. Abba Tijani, Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), headquarters, Abuja, expressed government’s desire to revamp the sector.
Martins, who was received on behalf of the D-G by the Director of Museums, Mr Abdul Gimba and other management staff, made special reference to the dilapidated former Eastern Nigeria Administrative Building, popularly known as Ojukwu Bunker.
He said the government would revamp not Ojukwu Bunker alone, but also other monuments belonging to the Commission in the state.
Martins said that he received instructions from Gov. Alex Otti to supervise a total overhaul of the Culture and Tourism sector in the state to reposition it for tourist attraction and employment opportunities.
He said that the governor was very passionate about tourism and hospitality sector and decided to set a precedence in the state.
According to him, I can assure you that in the next two to three years, you will be surprised at the level of development you will see in the state.
“And for us as a government, we have taken up this decision and see how we can go into partnership with the Commission to revive the dilapidated historical monuments and museums in our state.
“I’m most grateful to the Commission for the warmth reception and for expressing their happiness that the governor is thinking towards this direction,” he said.(NAN)
