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William J. Zick
The Tinapa Tragedy
Muti This
Mid last year, I got wind of the problems facing the multi-billion dollar Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort in Calabar, Nigeria. “The shops and stalls are closed and the place is deserted and there’s much going on”, I was told then. In fact, my source tagged the Tinapa concept as another white elephant Nigerian project.
Then, I didn’t want to believe given the strategic importance of project. But now, a report by ThisDay newspaper (via Allafrica.com: Nigeria: Country Loses N219b Yearly On Tinapa) is forcing me to think otherwise: “The Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, built at an estimated cost of $450 million (about N54 billion), is not operational” writes the news daily.
When THISDAY visited the project located at Adiabo in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, the place looked deserted with only a few shops open. Even the few open shops would not sell their wares to people for fear that they would incur the wrath of men of the Nigerian Customs Service.
At one of the shops rented by Vlisco, the management of the company pasted a notice on its doors that they had been forced to suspend operations on the directives of Customs…
Some officers of the Customs were also seen moving around the Site apparently to ensure that the few shops stocked with wares did not sell to people who troop in to the Resort to shop.
The newspaper report links the Tinapa problem to “the failure of the Federal Government to approve the Procedures and Guidelines for the operation of the resort”. It states further that “the construction of Tinapa has been completed and all that remains is for the Federal Government to approve the Procedures and Guidelines that were jointly prepared by the same Government and private stakeholders since October 2007.”
And there is more bad news. The paper states:
Dubai Government had realized that a sizeable portion of their revenue would be affected by the successful take-off of Tinapa and was already taking steps to shore up its revenue by investing in similar projects in Senegal and Ghana…Dubai Government is investing $800 million (short term) and $3 billion (long term) on developing a tax and duty free leisure and business resort in Dakar and also taking over the Port in Dakar to make Senegal their trade hub in West Africa.
Quoting my good friend, BRE: “What the heck is going on in the Nigerian government and business community to allow this huge project to founder?
Well, you tell me! Anything with the “government” tag is bad omen in Nigeria, this is one lesson we have learned since independence.
Hat-tip: BRE @ Jewels of the Jungle
Image source: www.showafrika.com
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bankelele | Feb 12, 2008 | Reply
Sad to see the outcome. We had seen their ad’s on DSTV promising the opening of Tinapa in 2007 and wondered how it had been received.
wole | Feb 12, 2008 | Reply
Tinapa belonged to the Donald Duke era, Obudu Cattle Ranch is Liyel Imoke’s priority project and the place is a bee hive of activity with the same federal government being one of its biggest patron. Before now visitors to Cross Rivers state usually you pass through Calabar to get to Obudu, but today our Government by pass Calabar and head straight to Obudu… by presidential jet. Pleasure first, business? maybe later if ever.
Misi | Feb 12, 2008 | Reply
What will happen to Tinapa now? Which procedures and guidelines are they waiting for before take-off? From what I understand above it seems government is the creator as well as the destroyer of the Tinapa project. I say so because who financed the project? Who will set the procedures and guidelines? Who is in charge of the Customs harassing the shoppers? All hands point to the government. I wouldn’t be surprised if (as usual) the person who initiated the project did so, solely as a means to make a quick buck from the contract and since the place is complete and they have taken their share they are no longer interested in the success of the place. That is the game, sad but real.:(
wole | Feb 12, 2008 | Reply
@misi i beleive the same that happened to FESTAC… to the National museum… to the National theatre… to Nigerian the Telecoms, to the Nigeria Airways… to Water Corporation… to National Electric Power Authority will happen also to Tinapa. As it was in the beginning, it is now and forever shall it be, world without end.
wole | Feb 12, 2008 | Reply
Only Righteousness can exhalt a nation Misi! Our leaders in Nigeria love pleasure, they love short cuts, to them the ideals of Tinapa was taking too long to realise and it seems international attention is too focussed on it for them to make “clean” money (egunje), they need quick money to share without any consequential rendering of account. Tinapa was turning out to be the cynosure of all eyes and, sadly that was to be its death knell.
Misi | Feb 12, 2008 | Reply
Sadly we are our own worst enemy.
Why can’t government follow through with something good for the people? They waste a lot of money and it is extremely annoying because the money is useful for many who live below the poverty line. Personally I really don’t care if the government eats money but satisfy the people first. The problem with the Nigerian leaders is they try to eat with all their fingers— you and I know how messy that could be.
seleipiri akobo | Feb 12, 2008 | Reply
I weep for my country and our lack of foresight. the author rightfully stated the geopolitical and personal gains that becloud our judgements as the reason for the non-approval of tinapa and i agree totally with what is said. It would not surprise me if some of the officials sitting on this project have not recieved kick backs form some dubai officials.Other countries are putting in place policies that favors their economy hence creating jobs and better amenities for their citizens and we are destroying the very few chances we have in our country. I am speechless and so angry..
Victor Ibeabuchi | May 24, 2008 | Reply
Having read through the commentaries on the issue of Tinapa and the Government(The Customs Service),there is the enormous need for us to welcome change into our socio-economic culture and in the way we do things generally.
We have no other country except NIGERIA;therefore,let’s make it work as one great indivisible enterprise.
Thanks and Godbless.
Eyong | Sep 15, 2008 | Reply
I recently carried out a research on the way forward for Tinapa, I discovered our nation is wicked, visionless and do not have the interest of NIgerians at heart. I can’t imagine how such a project will be left not functioning after one year of its existance, because of some selfish interest. We keep deceiving ourselves to be positioning our nation as one of the greatest economies in the world by 2020. Honestly its imposible, if we keep neglecting needed catalyst such as Tinapa. If Nigeria must move forward, we need radical innovators, not just good administrators.
Maurice Duke | Sep 29, 2008 | Reply
Tinapa should be any new government’s pet project. To neglect a place like that will be foolhardy regardless of whose project it was. Afterall, Gov. Duke did a lot at the Obudu ranch to bring it to the standard it now is…worldly.
Okon Calabar | Oct 16, 2008 | Reply
Nigeria- just a big basket case… so much promise… but no integrity… an utter disgrace.
Zita Ubong | Nov 21, 2008 | Reply
This is so… shameful.
Abdulrahman Obomeghie | Nov 25, 2008 | Reply
By Gods grace Tinapa will be a dream come true.