Shock and sorrow have gripped officials and staff of the Niger State Government House following the sudden death of Gregory Ossai Ozegbe, Chief Executive Officer of Castle HMG Hospitality, who collapsed and died over the weekend while lodged at the Government House premises in Minna.
According to eyewitnesses, the tragic incident happened at House No. 8 within the Government House compound, where the late Ozegbe was staying as a guest of the state government. He reportedly became visibly distressed after discovering that Mr. Sammy Adigun, Chairman of the Niger Food Security Systems and Logistics Company Limited, with whom he had scheduled a meeting, was not available.
Witnesses said efforts were made to save his life, as staff at the Government House quickly contacted doctors at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna. However, by the time medical personnel arrived at the scene, Ozegbe had already passed away.
The incident was confirmed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed that the Chief Security Officer of the Government House had reported a case of “suspected sudden death.” He said police officers from the GRA Division promptly responded, conveyed the deceased to the hospital, where he was formally pronounced dead, and later moved his body to the mortuary for autopsy.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Bologi Ibrahim, the state government described Ozegbe’s passing as a monumental loss. The statement also clarified that the late hospitality executive was serving as the project consultant for the Minna Five-Star Hotel Project, one of the state’s major tourism infrastructure initiatives.
According to the government, Ozegbe was actively working on the hotel development under the New Niger Agenda, a state initiative aimed at modernizing infrastructure and boosting investment in Niger State. The statement confirmed that his death was the result of a heart attack and that he had been staying at the Government House as part of his consultancy role supervising the project.
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago expressed his deep condolences, saying the late Ozegbe’s death was not only a personal loss to his family and business associates but also a significant blow to the state’s developmental vision. He noted that the CEO’s input had been crucial in pushing forward key hospitality and tourism projects that were expected to improve the state’s revenue and attract more investment.
Castle HMG Hospitality, the firm Ozegbe led, is known for its expertise in luxury hotel development and management. His role in the five-star hotel project was expected to raise the profile of Minna as a destination for high-end tourism and business travel in northern Nigeria.
As investigations into the exact circumstances surrounding his death continue, colleagues, stakeholders, and family members have continued to mourn the sudden loss. Tributes have poured in on social media from hospitality industry insiders and friends who described him as a brilliant professional and committed partner.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Government has promised to honour his legacy by ensuring the completion of the hotel project, which is a key part of its vision to transform the state’s economic landscape through tourism and hospitality investments.
