by Chi Ibe

244 leisure centres in Lagos have failed to comply with the Licensing Law thereby receiving a blacklist from the government.
They include hotels, event centres and restaurants that did not seek necessary registration from the authority and to comply with annual payments.
The Lagos State Government of Nigeria has also concluded plans to sue the defaulting facilities while ordering government ministries, departments and agencies not to do any form of business with the 244 hotels, event centres and restaurants henceforth.
Section 4, sub-section 1, 2 and 4 of the Hotel Licensing Law, Cap H6, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003 amended in 2010 says: “No person shall carry or keep a hotel in any premises in Lagos State without a license granted by the authority in respect of that premises under this law.”

Adesegun Ogunlewe, Head of Service, said: “It  was observed with utmost dismay that a number of such establishments in the state have refused to comply with the provisions of the law, thereby depriving the state government of its revenue that could have been used in providing essential amenities to her teeming population.”

“In order to ensure enforcement and compliance with the Hotels Licensing Law, the state government has concluded all arrangements to charge defaulting hospitality establishments to court.”

Secretary, Lagos State Hotel Licensing Authority,  Aduke Gomez, said in line with government’s resolve to sanitise the tourism industry, government will prosecute the defaulting facilities.

According to her, suits have been filed against identified non-compliant hospitality and tourism establishments in courts within the various magisterial divisions across the state. She added that legal proceedings against the proprietors of such establishments will soon commence.

Gomez also disclosed that legal proceedings against such defaulting establishments was ongoing, stressing that a second list of names will soon be submitted to the courts.

“The registration of hotels and tourism -related outfits is an internationally accepted control mechanism evolved by the World Tourism Organisation. “Therefore, it is mandatory that all hospitality and tourism establishments operating within Lagos State be registered. The registration of all hospitality and tourism establishments will provide a database for planning, marketing and research,” she stated. Gomez, who spoke in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria urged those that were yet to fully comply with the state government’s registration requirements to do so immediately. “Hotel registration will provide accurate information to protect hotel clientele and will also provide information to users on the quality of facilities available in the establishments while the publication of such data has the potential to increase customer traffic to accredited hotels and tourism establishments,” she said.

A document from the office of the Lagos Head of Service identified the defaulting facilities as A.Y. Hotel, Country Guest House, D Rock Hotel, De Boss Garden Hotels and Suites, Embassy Court Hotel, De Next Hotel, Edge Water Hotel and Resorts, Fantasy Land, Garden View, Georges Chinese Cuisine, Lekki, and Grand Roses Continental Hotel.

Others include Hotel Tropicana, La Scala Restaurant, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Lekki Suites, Nicon Hotels Limited, Peninsular Hotel and Towers, Prime Chinese Restaurant, Regency Hall, Rochester Gardens, Precious Garden Hotel, Rex Hotel, Omission Crown Prince Hotel and Sabitex Hotel Limited.