The Nigeria Hotel Association has issued a statewide warning to its members not to host criminals in their establishments.
During a meeting with national executives and state chairmen on Thursday in Owerri, Imo State, the association’s national president, Patrick Anyanwu, issued the warning to reporters.
He threatened to take action against any hotelier who was discovered to be harboring criminals, including suspected in online fraud.
“Any hotelier who is found to be harboring criminals or ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ boys will be held accountable.” According to him, the group supports a standard operating system that complies with industry regulations.
Anyanwu advised members to follow the rules governing the hospitality sector, pointing out that doing so would help safeguard the industry.
One of the key forces behind Nigeria’s economic expansion is still the tourist and hospitality industry.
One of the biggest employers of workers in Nigeria today is the hotel and hospitality industry.
“We accommodate tourists from all over the world and create jobs,” he continued.
Additionally, he urged hotel operators and owners to register with the association at the local and federal levels.
As part of efforts to regulate the sector, the president of the NHA stated that unregistered hotels may be subject to penalties, including potential closure.
When the time comes to make this work, we will employ security. Hotels that choose not to register with the organization will soon be subject to fines.
In an attempt to purify the sector, some hotels can potentially face closure. He continued, “We cannot continue to permit any unregistered hotel to operate and harm our association’s reputation.”
However, Anyanwu urged all tiers of government to back the group, pointing to the industry’s contribution to income generating and job creation.
He called on government to increase cooperation with the group and offer interventions like grants.
Additionally, the NHA president declared that the organization will not allow agencies to harass or intimidate its members in any way.
He had earlier praised the Imo State Government for its initiatives to boost travel and assist the hospitality industry.
To discuss challenges impacting the hospitality industry, national leaders and state chairmen of the association from the six geographic zones convened.
