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IBADAN – The Oyo state government has announced plans to clampdown on illegal and unregistered hotels, as well as other hospitality establishments and tour agencies in the state.
This disclosure was made on Wednesday by the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun at a press conference held at the Conference Room of the Ministry in State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
The Commissioner explained that the move which is in collaboration with all security agencies and registered hotel owners is aimed at improving the state’s Internal revenue generation and curbing incessant crimes perpetrated at these establishments.
Olatunbosun, while acknowledging the influx of businesses into the state due to the high standard and quality of infrastructure and security, announced that the process will begin next week with awareness and sensitization across all geo-political zones in the state, after which enforcement will follow immediately, with serious penalties for offenders.
He said, “It is disheartening in spite of the enabling environment erected by the current administration for the hospitality sector to thrive some of the operators in the sector fair to register their enterprise with the State Government and consequently, deny the government of internally generated revenue (IGR) and necessary data for planning purpose
“Roads were constructed to link all the tourism corridors together, Inter and intra-city road networks are also dualized and rehabilitated to ease movement, all the security Agencies in the state are well funded with the procurement of patrol vans and massive recruitment of able-bodied men and women into Oyo state security Network and Amotekun Corps making Oyo state among the most secured and peaceful State in Nigeria
“The State Government is adopting various strategies to generate traffics to the state among which are hosting of various festivals and programmes such as Aso-Ofi Festival at Iseyin, Iyake Festival at Ado Aware, Beere Festival at Saki, World Sango Festival at Oyo, Ogbomoso Cradle Festival at Ogbomoso, World Twins Festival at Igbo-ora, World Egungun Festival and International Tourism Summit at Ibadan and recently, the Ibadan valentine Cruise on Eleyele Lake, Ibadan.
“The influx of people into the State, since the inauguration of the current administration of His Excellency, Engi: Sevi Makinde in 2019, nas been on the higher magnitude. A survey conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Ministry of Budget and Planning, and Management Information Center (MIC) of Office of the Executive Governor reveals that all the major hotels in the state are completely booked and occupied from every Thursday evening till early Monday morning.
“To this end, the Oyo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism in conjunction with members of Hoteliers Association of Nigeria (HAN), Oyo State chapter has completed all arrangement tu embark on sensitization and awareness visit to hotels, night clubs, event centres, and other similar hospitality centres within the state.
“The ideas are to ensure that all the operators in the hospitality sector register with the State Government, secure the numbers and spatial distribution of the hospitality enterprises for planning, security and safety purposes, the grading and standardization of the centres, the fishing out of illegal and suspicious ones among them, boosting the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State Government and others. Olatubosun said.
The Commissioner also noted that the constant evasion of tax and the failure of the establishments to provide adequate data has continued to strain the government, hindering effectively planning and making it difficult for security agencies to function optimally, due to lack of adequate information.
Also speaking at the press conference, the Chairman of Hotelier Association of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter, Otunba Ayodele Ogundele called on hotel owners to corporate with the state government in the bid to ensure the safety of citizens and the hospitality businesses in the state.
He also maintained that move will bring about proper decimation of information, he urged them to upgrade the level of staff and uphold professionalism that ensures proper verification, and accountability from all visitors to their establishments.
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