Along Kashim Ibrahim Road, one of Yola’s major arteries, the Yola International Hotel rises quietly from the dusty landscape. Its bare concrete shell, visible from afar, stands as a lingering symbol of an ambition that never fully materialised. Once projected as a flagship tourism and business hub for Adamawa State, the hotel has remained abandoned for years, its corridors silent and its promise unrealised.
An Ambitious Beginning
The Yola International Hotel was constructed in the late 1980s during the military era by Songai Nigeria Limited. Sitting on approximately 6.2 hectares of land, the project was conceived as part of efforts to expand Adamawa State’s hospitality and tourism infrastructure.
“Adamawa is a state with significant potential to attract tourists,” said Dr. El-Ma’unde Gambo Jibreel, an Accounting lecturer at Modibbo Adama University, Yola, as he reflected on the broader economic opportunities tied to hospitality development in the state.
“In developed countries, this kind of hotel infrastructure is deliberately built to strengthen the hospitality sector and drive revenue generation,” he added. “But apart from the American University of Nigeria Hotel in Yola, most of the existing facilities here are not up to standard.”
Renovations That Led to Ruin
In 2005, the administration of former Governor Boni Haruna initiated renovation works on the hotel. Rather than reopening with improved facilities, the process resulted in the stripping of the hotel’s interiors. The renovation stalled, the doors remained shut, and the hotel never returned to public use.
Further efforts to revive the facility emerged during the administration of former Governor Murtala Nyako. The project was reportedly overseen by the late Abdulrahman Abba, the Chief of Staff at the time, but it eventually stalled due to what were described as unforeseen circumstances.
In a move that raised questions about the project’s direction, Nigeria’s news outlets reported that the hotel’s furniture was reportedly removed and auctioned rather than refurbished or replaced as part of the rehabilitation plans. Since then, the facility has remained non operational, with no clear public explanation of its status.
Promises Without Completion
Public attention returned to the hotel during the administration of former Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, who stated to the media in Yola that the project was more than 65 per cent completed.
Bindow made the claim during a visit to the site to inspect what was described at the time as ongoing work. Emphasising the need to diversify revenue sources amid economic challenges, he described the hotel’s completion as a strategic priority for the state.
What the Satellite Images Reveal
As this was the first time a governor had made a clear public statement on the project’s progress, we examined a series of satellite images taken between 2004 and 2015, covering the period up to when the former governor made the claim.
The images show the entrance and driveway appearing freshly cleared or resurfaced. At least four large orange and yellow containers line the southern perimeter fence, creating the impression of active work at the time.
However, images from January 2015 reveal signs of burning or heavy clearing behind the main building, with no visible improvement to the hotel’s structure itself.
A Site of Contradictions
(Photo: Abdulaziz Ibrahim)
A visit to the Yola International Hotel reveals a structure caught between ambition and neglect. The building remains largely sealed, surrounded by overgrown vegetation and unused facilities that point to years of inactivity. Inside, corridors once designed to welcome guests are lined with cobwebs, while the transparent glass panels at the reception, intended to project modernity and openness, are dulled by layers of dust.
According to Abubakar Sadiq Aminu, Adamawa State Lead of Follow The Money, previous efforts by the organisation to track funds allegedly spent on the project were unsuccessful due to a lack of cooperation from government officials.
“The Bindow administration must explain to the public the basis of its claim that the project was 65 per cent completed and why it failed to finish it,” he said. “Furthermore, all administrations from 2005 to date should account for what was done and how much was spent.”
Unanswered Questions
The current Adamawa State administration under Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, which assumed office in 2019, has embarked on several construction projects across Yola, the state capital. However, the abandoned hotel has yet to receive similar attention. In recent months, the Fintiri administration has indicated plans to explore partnerships with private sector investors as a possible pathway to reviving the facility.
Key questions, however, remain unanswered. How much has been spent on the project from 2005 to date? Which contractors were awarded the work? When was the project originally scheduled for completion? And what factors led to its prolonged delay?
In an effort to obtain official clarification, we sent a Freedom of Information request to the Adamawa State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, whose ministry oversees the project. As of the time of filing this report, no response had been received.