Eno assures completion of 18-storey Ibom Towers by August 2027

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has expressed satisfaction with the renewed pace of work on the 18-storey Ibom Towers project in Victoria Island, Lagos, assuring that the structural component of the building will be completed by August 2027.

Eno gave the assurance on Friday during an unscheduled inspection of the project site on Bishop Abayode-Cole Crescent, Victoria Island. The governor said he was pleased that the project had begun to take shape after overcoming initial setbacks but urged the contractors to sustain the pace of work to meet the delivery timeline.

Speaking during the inspection, Eno said the project was primarily intended for commercial purposes and would enable Akwa Ibom to strengthen its presence in Nigeria’s property market. He added that the investment would also create another source of internally generated revenue for the state.

The governor said the project was part of efforts to reduce the state’s dependence on revenue from crude oil, stressing that the current boom in the oil industry might not last indefinitely. He said the state needed to develop its assets and invest in sectors capable of generating sustainable revenue in the long term.

“I am happy that the contractors have made it possible for me to stand on the ground floor. It gives me some relief. The building is mainly for commercial use and Akwa Ibom wants to participate in the property market in this country. This project will increase the state’s IGR,” Eno said.

The governor also expressed delight at the number of Akwa Ibom indigenes working on the project and announced that the state statistician-general would visit the site to assess the project’s economic and employment impact.

The Managing Director of Western Legacy Construction, Kunle Adedigba, said the contractors were committed to meeting the delivery schedule despite the limited size of the site and the height of the building. He said the plan was to construct a new floor every three weeks, with a review of the schedule in December.

Explaining the initial delays, the Structural Engineering Consultant, Murray Ekong, said the site had poor soil conditions which required extensive foundation work, including the installation of more than 100 piles and retaining walls to protect neighbouring structures during excavation. He stated that those challenges had been overcome and expressed confidence that a new floor would be completed every three weeks.