The Nation Newspaper

Tag: hotel

  • ‘Hotel investment forum contributed $16.8m to African economies’

    •Created 5,462 jobs

    The total contribution of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) to economies on the continent, since inception, has hit $16.8 million. It is estimated that AHIF has been responsible for deals worth over $4 billion cumulatively.

    An international audit, tax and advisory experts, Grant Thornton, which made the independent assessment, said the headline figures included direct, indirect and induced financial benefits – accepted economic multipliers – and run from the first AHIF in Morocco in 2011 to Rwanda last year.

    AHIF is Africa’s premier hotel investment conference, which attracts many prominent international hotel owners, investors, financiers, management companies and their advisers.

    AHIF is organised by Bench Events, which has a track record of delivering multiple premium hotel investment conferences and forums across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

    Key findings of the Grant Thornton report, which spanned over six year, listed AHIF’s economic benefits to include $6.9 million direct contribution of AHIF to local economies, additional $9.9 million generated through indirect and induced impact, ie boosting local suppliers, increasing local spending power.

    The report obtained by The Nation, also said a total of $1.1 million were paid in taxes in various host countries, while a total of 5,462 jobs – temporary or permanent – were created or sustained.

    Delegate survey, according to the report, indicated a total deal value of $124 million, an average of $4.6 million per deal – translated for all AHIF events between 2011 and 2016, deals total an estimated $4.4 billion.

    Report author, Martin Jansen van Vuuren, said, “On average, hosting an AHIF event brings a million dollars in direct benefit to the local economy, an additional $1.4 million in indirect benefit and a substantial six-figure sum in tax to the host government.”

    He noted that one key gauge of AHIF’s success was the high-level of the delegates it attracts. “The attending CEO’s and MD’s do not only spend more than average by staying in the best hotels, but much more importantly, they are people with the ability to make decisions, including whether or not to invest in a destination – and that’s reflected in the value of deals done,” he said.

    Vuuren added that the report also highlighted the fact that host economies benefit from wide media coverage and from the credential of hosting a top-level conference like AHIF. He said doing so helps to attract further events, which boost local companies and provide job opportunities as well as the chance to develop skills.

    Commenting on Africa’s broader economic prospects, Martin said: “Economic growth of African countries may have slowed at present because of commodity prices, but commodity prices will rise again.

    “And given hotel development lead-in times, which are three years on average, and taking in to account the life of the asset, which is decades after the hotel is built, this is a good moment for investment, in my view.”

    The Chairman of Bench Events, Mr. Jonathan Worsley, said: “We are gratified that this report bears out what we’ve always believed: that hosting AHIF adds value to the places we visit and the conference is a great place to discuss deals which benefit tourism in Africa.

    “This year’s event will be our most comprehensive and exciting with an outstanding line-up of speakers, first-hand advice from experts and unique networking opportunities.”

    The seventh edition of the AHIF is billed for Kigali, Rwanda, between October 10 -12, 2017. According to Worsley, “Rwanda is a prime example of what can be achieved in our sector by a country that is determined to use tourism to propel itself forward and we’re pleased to be back again in October.”

  • Court orders interim forfeiture of hotel to Fed Govt

    Court orders interim forfeiture of hotel to Fed Govt

    A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday gave an order temporarily forfeiting Victoria East Park Hotel and Suites on Igbogbo-Mayegun Road at Ikorodu in Lagos State to the Federal Government.

    The owner of the property, Ebiesuwa Fredrick, is said to have acquired along that proceeds  with N53.7 million alleged  fraud.

    Justice Chuka Obiozor authorised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seize the hotel for 21 days to enable it conclude investigation on the alleged fraud.

    The order followed an ex parte application by the EFCC, stating it believed Fredrick acquired the hotel with fraud proceeds.

    The agency accused Fredrick of being the ringleader of a syndicate of fraudsters in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, with accomplices in Lagos.

    EFCC’s lawyer Ayanfeoluwa Ogunsina said the commission sought to take over the hotel to prevent its sale while investigation was being conducted on it, thereby “defeating the ends of justice”.

    Ogunsina said the EFCC was investigating Fredrick and suspected members of his syndicate, who are on the run, following a petition from Dunni Olagbegi, who claimed to have been defrauded of N53.7 million by the suspects.

    An EFCC investigating officer, Chris Odofin, who deposed to an affidavit filed in support of the application, accused the suspects of hypnotising their victims.

    He said: “The antics of these fraudsters include luring people into their criminal den where they present one of them as a pastor, hypnotise their victim, make the victim take an oath never to reveal what they say or do and then use all sorts of deceitful methods to collect money from the victim.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the respondent (Fredrick) is a member of the syndicate of fraudsters that specialise in duping unsuspecting people and have duped several people through this means and are still on the prowl, seeking more people to devour.

    “The respondent and some members of his syndicate are based in Ibadan while they also have accomplices in Lagos.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Lagos revokes hotel’s wastewater discharge regulatory certification

    Lagos revokes hotel’s wastewater discharge regulatory certification

    Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC) has revoked the water/wastewater discharge regulatory certification of Radisson Blu Hotel on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos. In a statement yesterday, LSWRC accused the hotel   of contravening wastewater discharge regulation.

    LSWRCExecutive Secretary Ahmed Kabiru, said the revocation of the certification was necessary because the hotel compromised sewage treatment and disposal law of the state.

    He said: “By the revocation order, the hotel cannot discharge any wastewater into the environment henceforth. A situation where any facility will discharge untreated effluent into the environment is unacceptable. All properties in this category must have proper water and wastewater treatment facilities suitable for their capacity and must also obtain necessary licenses and certification from the commission to ensure they are functioning properly. ‘Dummy facilities’ will no longer be condoned.

    “The management of the hotel has been instructed to immediately suspend all actions that would lead to further discharge of untreated and unsatisfactory wastewater into the public drains/water body with immediate effect pending re-certification and clearance by the Commission.”

    He requested for the development and upgrading of all water and waste water facilities in the hotel under the agency’s supervision.

    The facility, he said, would remain sealed under until the government is satisfied with the hotel’s compliance with the law.

    He restated the government’s commitment to the protection of the state’s water bodies against hazard and environmental nuisance.

  • Married woman dies in hotel room with ‘lover’

    A married woman has died in a hotel room in Enugu while “enjoying” with her lover during a one-night stand.

    A statement by police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the deceased was identified as Mrs Ifeyinwa Udeh of Ugboezeji in Abakpa Nike of Enugu State.

    The statement said: “On that fateful day, the deceased with her lover, identified as Joel Ugwu of Abakpa in Enugu State, had allegedly checked into one hotel located around Nowas Junction of Transekulu in Enugu.

    “She was later confirmed dead by a doctor at St Leo’s Hospital Transekulu after suddenly falling ill and becoming unconscious.

    “She was taken to the hospital for medical attention at 11.15 p.m by her lover.”

    The statement said Ugwu, who is in police custody, is assisting the investigation on the incident.

    It said the suspect confessed that he and Ifeyinwa “comfortably checked into the hotel on that fateful day, but later, the lady lover started complaining of ill health. According to the suspect, she was immediately given a bottle of malt drink and bottled water, which he allegedly bought for her while they were relaxing in the hotel room”.

    The police added: “He said following the development, he rushed her to the hospital for medical attention, but she was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

    “The body of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue of the Parklane Specialist Hospital in Enugu for autopsy.”

    Also, detectives from Homicide Section of the police command have begun a full scale investigation into the incident.

    The police said they recovered from the hotel room some tablets and capsules as well as other materials, which they said would aid operatives in their investigations.

     

  • I’m not building hotel in Abuja, says Zamfara governor

    I’m not building hotel in Abuja, says Zamfara governor

    Zamfara state governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari has denied reports that he was building a $3 million dollars hotel in Abuja with money stolen from the state shares of the Paris Club refund.

    The governor who said he neither owns a plot of land in the Abuja, nor is building a hotel in the city, described reports that he embezzled another N2.2 billion from the N19billion set aside illegally to pay “consultants”, as wrong, harmful, libelous and misleading.

    In a statement signed by the Head of Media and Public Affairs of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abulrazque B. Barkindo, the governor expressed concern about reports by an online media quoting an unnamed source from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The governor condemned the resort to media trial of people by the commission, stressing that such attitude has led to the commission losing many high profile cases of corruption. 

    He said while the media is entitled to perform its duties as watchdog of society, which is enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is not, however, entitled to make unfair attacks, based on unfounded, false and unsubstantiated allegations against responsible public office holders.

    The statement reads: “Reports on Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara State, and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum making the rounds in some online media which claimed that the “governor is building a $3m hotel from monies stolen from the Paris-London Club refunds to states” give cause for worry.

    “The reports contain harmful, damaging and libelous insinuations which remain largely unsubstantiated despite the fact that it attributes the leaks to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), officials in Lagos.

    “Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar has said emphatically that he does not even own a plot of land in Lagos not to talk of a hotel. But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials in Lagos claimed as follows: that “they have found a hotel being constructed by Governor Yari of Zamfara state with $3m he stole from London-Paris Club loan refund to Nigerian states.

    “That “apart from the $3million, Governor Yari also diverted N500 million from the Paris Club refund to pay off a loan”, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) source revealed to an online medium.

    “The medium also added that EFCC officials in Lagos revealed that “overall the governor embezzled the sum of N2.2 billion from the N19billion set aside illegally to pay “consultants”, all of which are wrong, harmful, libelous and misleading disclosures.

    “Governor Abdulaziz Yari is not building any hotel in Lagos nor were any monies stolen or embezzled from the Paris-London Club refunds to states or from any other source.

     “The online medium quoted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) extensively as its source and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum is alarmed that the EFCC continues to feed the media fibs at the expense of its hard-earned reputation as the anti- graft agency that Nigerians used to respect.

    “This is perhaps why the EFCC has lost most of the high-profile corruption cases at the law courts after it had unfairly stage-managed media trials and caused their victims personal pain and public umbrage.

    “This report, typical of most of the exclusive leaks that are becoming characteristic of the sources that court some sections of the media, lacks detail and compelling evidence to be fit to print.

    “The sources were courageous enough to mentioned a hotel in Lekki area of Lagos but gave neither a street name nor any specific information on the property to give credibility to the allegations. This does no service to any investigation nor does it help the development of our country Nigeria.

    “The media, we all know, is entitled to perform its duties as watchdog of society, which is enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is not, however, entitled to make unfair attacks, based on unfounded, false and unsubstantiated allegations against responsible public office holders.

    “The media should support the EFCC in ensuring that convicting people on the pages of newspapers shouldn’t be the focus of the EFCC in its war against corruption. Instead, EFCC should channel its energies to comprehensive, thorough and credible investigation that can stand the scrutiny of legal examination in court.

    “There can be no claim to any semblance of due process when individuals are convicted on the pages of newspapers before they are arraigned only to be declared innocent at the end, all at the expense of their reputation and that of their immediate family, through such media hype.

    “The newspaper is not an alternative court, as far as our constitution is concerned, and all responsible journalists are obliged by the ethics of their profession to ensure that whatever goes into publication is verified and adjudged to be accurate.

     “I therefore urge, in the spirit of responsible journalism, balance and fairness, that journalists desist from absorbing hook, line and sinker scoops from fifth columnists whose actions are tantamount to dragging the reputation of the EFCC in the mud,” the governor said. 

  • Hotel supervisor charged with N23m theft

    A supervisor, Paul Mogaji, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing N23million from the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Mogaji, 46, was arraigned by the Victoria Island Police Division before Mrs A. F. Botoku on a one-count charge of stealing.

    The defendant, who lives at 23, Onitire Street, Itire, Surulere, was a supervisor in the hotel’s finance department.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Francisca Job told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence sometime between January 2013 and November 2016, at the hotel.

    She alleged that Mogaji, who was in charge of the hotel’s casino, stole the money, property of the hotel, in several tranches.

    Responding to a question from Magistrate Botoku, Job said: “The defendant stole the money bit by bit. He took the cash out of the hotel by hiding them in his shoes.”

    Mogaji pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Botoku granted him N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum, who must show evidence of three years’ tax payment.

    She adjourned the case till March 27.

  • SON completes work on hotel standardisation

    A major feat towards the regulation and standardisation of hospitality business in Nigeria has been achieved by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria as its National Mirror Committee (NMC) on tourism has successfully completed work on the first ever national framework on standards for Nigerian hotels. This is expected to form the baseline for the grading and classification of hotels in the country once approved.

    Head, Ogun State Office 1 of SON, Engr. Enebi Shaibu Onucheyo, who represented the Director General of SON, Osita Anthony Aboloma, at the event held in Lagos recently, described this as a great achievement that would bring development in the tourism industry as well as build confidence in the products and services offered by the industry in Nigeria.

    He said: “With what we  have seen here today, there are a lot of achievements under the able chairmanship of Mrs. Chika Balogun, the Directore General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR). I think her emergence as the chairman of the committee is a good thing that has happened to Nigeria in the area of tourism. She is very active; she has taken the committee to a different level. Today alone, we have adopted four standards in the tourism sector. This is going to enhance the performance and the services rendered within the tourism sector of the economy.”

    He said although there are more standards to be adopted, but the next stage for the standards adopted is for SON to  look at the document and  do what is called editorial review  and then send it to our council for final approval.

    It will also be  sent to the international community such as the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and other relevant international bodies for approval before it becomes a legal document for the tourism sector.

    The National Mirror Committee was inaugurated by SON in April this year in Lagos with the mandate to review and adopt the International Standard Organisation (ISO/T228) and Africa Organisation for Standardisation set up by ECOWAS in accordance with international best practices for use in the tourism industry.

     

     

  • FIRS shuts hotel, drug firm, others over N306m debt

    FIRS shuts hotel, drug firm, others over N306m debt

    The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) yesterday shut another set of tax defaulting companies, in Abuja, Lagos and Sango-Ota over outstanding N306.82 million debts.

    In Abuja, the FIRS team sealed Bolingo Hotels and Towers at the Central Business District for an outstanding tax of N24,4million, which was accumulated from 2002. But the enforcement team, led by Bukar Umar Gana, could not locate Etat Consulting Limited in Abuja, which has a liability of N32.4million. The amount includes company income tax, withholding tax and education tax.

    In Lagos, FIRS sealed the offices of the Nigerian German Chemicals Limited, on Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, over a tax debt in excess of N146.6 million. Also affected is Trident Marketing Limited, Ajao Road, Ikeja, which is said to be indebted to the tune of N90.8 million.

    In Sango-Ota, Ogun State, the enforcement team shut Allied Atlantic Distilleries Limited, which owes over N45 million.

  • Alamieyeseigha’s N2.8b hotel rots away in Abuja

    Alamieyeseigha’s N2.8b hotel rots away in Abuja

    Almost seven years after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) handed over the N2.8billion Chelsea Hotel to the government of Bayelsa State, the hitherto money-spinning edifice is rotting away in Abuja.

    The hotel was seized from the state’s first civilian governor, the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

    A Federal High Court, Lagos in 2007 ordered the forfeiture of the hotel by Alamieyeseigha after the ex-governor was sentenced for corruption.

    Besides the hotel, the EFCC sold other Alamieyeseigha assets in Nigeria and realised N3, 128, 230, 294.83billion; $441,000; E7, 000 and £2,000.

    The money was remitted to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in accordance with the law, for onward delivery to the state government as ordered by the court.

    Former EFCC Chairman Mrs. Farida Waziri on September 7, 2009 handed over the hotel to ex-Governor Timipreye Sylva in Abuja. The thinking was that it would be a source of revenue for the state.

    Seven years after the asset was returned to the state government, the hotel has become a haven for miscreants, men of the underworld, rodents and reptiles.

    Shady activities are being perpetrated at the abandoned hotel, which poses danger to some shopping malls and banks in the Central Business District of Abuja.

    Some of the miscreants have stripped the hotel of vital materials, which has no security.

    An EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “As at the time we handed over the hotel, in 2009, the asset was worth N2.8billion. We returned the hotel to Bayelsa State with another asset at No. 2 Marscibit Street, Off Aminu Kano Crescent Wuse II Abuja which was valued at N210million.

    “We took a step further by instructing Diya Fatimilehin and Co., former managers of the hotel to provide the state with detailed inventory of assets of the hotel.”

    “It is unfortunate that nothing has been done in the last seven years. The land where the hotel is sited attracts either up to N800million to N1billion in Abuja. Yet the asset is allowed to lie fallow

    “To the source, the fate of the once throwing hotel is a typical case of how the anti-graft war is being “frustrated and rendered meaningless”

    “A former Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu worked day and night to bring Alamieyeseigha to justice but the efforts have come to naught,” he said.

    Asked if the EFCC can query the state government on why the hotel has been abandoned, the source said: “Well, there is not much we can do because we have done our best.

    “The state’s funds were looted and used to buy the hotel; we traced the loot and recovered the assets. It is left to the state to live up to its pledge to make judicious use of the asset or sell it.

    “We have been expecting a status report from Bayelsa State on how it has spent the recovered funds and the utilisation of the returned assets.”

    Upon the receipt of the hotel in 2009, Sylva said: “The Bayelsa State Government will not be able to manage the assets by itself. The fund that the state government will receive will also go to building what is called the Transparency Plaza, in the middle of the Yenagoa Central Business District, so that this plaza will be a monument that will be a constant reminder of today.

    ”As soon as the fund is accessed, we will like to ask you to come to Bayelsa State to lay the foundation of this plaza.

    “We will welcome your close monitoring of the expenditure of this fund, after all without the instrumentality of EFCC, we would not have accessed this fund, so it is only good that you know exactly what we are doing. We are running an open government; our budget is on the website, anybody can access it. We are fully committed to transparency and to partner fully with EFCC.”

    As at press time, rodents, reptiles, rodents, miscreants, drug addicts have taken over the hotel.

    It was gathered that many posh cars and Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) massed up in darkness at the hotel at night for what a source described as “nocturnal deals”.

    A concerned bank executive said: “The activities of some miscreants at the old hotel premises constitute security threats to commercial entities in CBD, including choice malls and banks nearby.

    “Security agencies and the police should have more than a passing interest in some activities at the old hotel.”

  • Intercontinental Hotel unveils Chef Kong

    For many Nigerian diners, the Chinese cuisines have become food that they have grown to love. This has led to many Chinese restaurants springing up and the Nigerian public has taken to their meals.

    Intercontinental Hotel says it is introducing a new and vastly experienced Chinese chef that specializes in modern Chinese delicacies and fusions of Chinese food with local food spices and flavours. The hotel unveiled its new Chinese chef, Mr.  Chua Kong. He will be preparation modern Chinese cuisines at the hotel’s Soho Restaurant.

    Speaking on the new chef, the director of food and beverages, Mr. Ahmed Raza, said it was part of the efforts to offer the Nigerian diners the best: “We have a new chef on Chinese cuisines. He has come with vast experience from different parts of Asia. He was worked in India and Malaysia. His main area of expertise is modern Chinese cuisines. The idea is that Chinese cuisines are very popular in this part of the world, especially Nigeria.

    “A lot of families come to us and what we want to give to them is Chinese food with a Nigerian twist. We will be focusing on the spices and we want to make authentic Chinese flavour with the Nigerian flavour. That is our target market. We want to reach out to the local Nigerian diner who loves Chinese food and we will make sure we give them the best Chinese food.”

    On his target market, he said: “Obviously, our main target is the local Nigerian market. That is our ideal focus. So, if that is our target market, why not create flavours that they will appreciate? That is the exact idea behind this.

    “That is the reason we have hired a new Chinese chef, Shua’s great experience in blending flavours. He has done that in India, China and Malaysia, and I am sure he will approach this task with the same zeal and enthusiasm. We revisit our tastes and we pander to the taste of local Nigerians. I am sure Shua has the ability to really conquer the hearts of Nigerians.”

    Chef Kong said he was excited and that the experience in Nigeria was “very good experience because of the culture of the people in Nigeria, the flavour. In other countries, the taste is different. Here your food is more spicy. So, now we come with menus that have more variety in terms of spice.

    “We have dishes for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Our cuisine is a modern Chinese cuisine with authentic sauce, but we do the fusion to come up with something exciting and different. We have about 27 sauces and all the dishes are different and unique. We serve the dishes with the sauces.”