Abia State Government Warns Hotels: No Room for Insecure or Unhygienic Conditions
The Abia State Government has issued a stern directive to operators of hotels, bars, lounges, restaurants, and other hospitality facilities, mandating that they prevent guests and visitors from being exposed to insecure or unhygienic environments.
The directive forms part of a broader initiative to introduce a comprehensive classification and grading system for the state's hospitality industry. This system will evaluate facilities based on standardized criteria, including security measures, hygiene standards, equipment quality, service delivery, and overall operational efficiency.
Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mathew Ekwuribe, announced the policy during a stakeholders’ engagement program held in Umuahia for hospitality industry operators. He emphasized that the classification exercise is designed to foster professionalism, build traveler confidence, and align Abia with global best practices in tourism and hospitality.
"Any hotel found operating below the accepted standards for security, hygiene, and equipment will be required to upgrade accordingly," Ekwuribe stated. He assured operators that the classification and inspection process would be provided free of charge by the state government, with no fees collected during assessments.
Ekwuribe also updated stakeholders on related tourism development efforts, revealing that Governor Alex Otti has approved the upgrading of the National War Museum and the Ojukwu Bunker in Umuahia. However, the state is currently awaiting final approval from the Federal Government to proceed with the renovations, which aim to modernize these key historical sites and enhance their appeal as tourist attractions.
Representing Amena Technology — the government's partner in the digital standardization and classification scheme — Edosa Eghobamien addressed the operators directly. He cautioned against employing untrained personnel or individuals without verifiable registered addresses, warning that such practices could jeopardize guest safety.
"The safety of guests is at serious risk if hotels are staffed by untrained individuals or maintained in unhealthy conditions," Eghobamien said. He urged operators not to panic or attempt to evade the classification process, reiterating that the government would impose no financial charges for the inspections.
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