TINAPA Woos local businesses

The Management of TINAPA Business Resort Calabar says it is encouraging local businesses to own shops and business outlets to boost activities in the resort.

Mr Ayiba Ayiba, Managing Director of the Resort, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Calabar that this was part of measures to resuscitate business activities in the resort.

“We are doing everything humanly possible to ensure that TINAPA works. We are trying to explore our local markets.

We are trying to encourage our local traders to come and rent our shops and do business with us.”

He disclosed that there were 54 shops in the complex and not more than 10 were currently occupied.

According to him, facilities at the TINAPA Water Point were also being resuscitated to make them functional, adding that a borehole had been put in place.

He blamed the lack of activities at the point to poor water and epileptic power supply.

“We have sunk a borehole and water tanks are being installed as alternative water supply to the pool. This will take care of regular water supply to the pool and keep the toilets clean.

“Also, we are making efforts to provide alternative power source to ensure regular power supply to the pool, as this is one of the biggest challenges facing the resort.

“So I am assuring tourists that by the first week of October our pool will be functioning normally,” Ayiba said.

He also dismissed online reports which alleged that the Monorail linking TINAPA with Calabar International Conference Centre (C ICC ) had been paralysed due to stealing of its armoured cable by hoodlums.

According to him, the monorail was in perfect condition, but was not functioning because there were no passengers to be transported.

“The monorail is in perfect condition; nothing has happened to it but presently there is no patronage.

“Whenever we have passengers we call the engineers to put necessary things in place for its use.

“So the rumours making the rounds is baseless and untrue,” he added.

Ayiba stressed the need for the state government to re-constitute the TINAPA board to facilitate the current investment drive going on in the resort.