BEN THOMAS HOTELS KABBA: An hotel of over 360 rooms, is still the largest hotel in Middle Belt region of Nigeria.

Neglected And A Wasting Asset.

This is Ben Thomas Hotels, the largest hotel in the old Kwara state.

This gigantic and magnificent edifice was erected in 1981/1982 and commissioned in 1983.

It’s located at Iyah, a suburb of Kabba, Kogi state.

During the commissioning, the duo of King Sunny Ade and General Kollington Ayinla thrilled the invited guests and the publics with danceable songs.

Kabba Kingdom was agog with pomp and pageantry, people from all walks of life thronged the ancient province to savour the splendour and grandeur of the palatial edifice.

The much talked about Kwara hotels is less than 200 rooms, while Shiroro hotels in Minna is about 180 rooms. Confluence Beach and Kogi hotels both in Lokoja ate lagging behind the magnificent Ben Thomas.

Today, the story has changed. The once prestigious hotel is now a shadow of itself, wearing an unkempt, ramshackle and rickety look and has gone moribund.

Albeit, the structure is still intact, but abandoned and wasting. It has been in a sorry state for the past 35years.

This hotel if resuscitated, and refurbished would compete with hotels like Federal Palace, Protea and Sheraton in Ikeja, Gubabi Royal Suites, Horizon and Chelsea hotels in Abuja.

In fact, these hotels mentioned above aren’t as gigantic as Ben Thomas, but being in highbrow areas in the city, enjoy impressive patronage.

© Olubiyo Yosef