Dr. Eldred Taylor, Chairman of the Office of Presidential Infrastructure Initiative (OPII), presided over a meeting of the Project Management Technical Committee (PMTC) for the Lungi Hotel, Congress Centre, and Presidential Villas Construction Project today, urging all stakeholders to expedite work to ensure key components are completed in time for the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit in June 2026.
Dr Taylor opened the meeting by praising President Dr Julius Maada Bio for championing the ambitious infrastructure initiative, which he says is intended to strengthen regional integration and position Sierra Leone as a competitive destination for tourism and international state engagement. He emphasised that, while the project has three components, the immediate priority is to complete and deliver the congress centre and presidential villas in time for the summit.
“His Excellency has directed the OPII to deliver this project,” Dr Taylor stated, citing the President’s personal commitment to leaving a lasting legacy during his tenure as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State. He stated that President Bio wishes to be remembered as a leader who advanced regional integration, peacebuilding, economic diplomacy, and strategic state engagements, and who left Sierra Leone with the infrastructure necessary to host major international events.
Dr Taylor thanked the EPC contractor, FB Group, for demonstrating commitment to the project and emphasised reports that the company is working overtime to meet the tight deadline. He urged all partners to work together to ensure the project is completed on time and leaves a “monumental legacy” for the country and the ECOWAS chairmanship.
Dr Alhassan Mansaray, representing the Ministry of Finance, reiterated the government’s support for summit-related infrastructure projects and stressed that the financing arrangement underpinning the development does not burden the government’s balance sheet. His remarks were intended to reassure stakeholders and the general public that the project’s financial structure is sustainable.
Mr Richard Hindolo Senesie, representing the National Revenue Authority (NRA), advocated for transparency throughout the construction process and reaffirmed the NRA’s commitment to facilitating the timely clearance of imported materials by expediting required waivers during the construction phase.
Project Manager Ing. Tejan Abdul Tejan provided an update on current progress, stating that active construction is taking place across several components of the development at the same time. He emphasised the importance of ongoing agency coordination to keep projects on track and within technical and regulatory constraints.
At the meeting, stakeholders unanimously adopted the PMTC’s Terms of Reference and pledged their “unwavering commitment and support” to the project. The Committee, established by the OPII as part of the project’s implementation arrangements, acts as a multi-institutional technical platform to provide guidance and ensure that development is carried out within the approved scope, timelines, and regulatory frameworks. The project is moving forward using an innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to build an internationally branded hotel, congress centre, and presidential villas in Lungi.
