COVID-19: Hoteliers In Epe Urges Gov. Sanwo-Olu To Relax Lockdown In Hospitality Outfits

As part of an attempt to limit the spread of Covid-19 in Lagos State and in Nigeria at large, the Federal and State Governments have instituted lockdown measures by shutting down schools and banned operations of public gatherings.

The Lagos State Government on March 25th, 2020, announced its ban on public gatherings that are more than 50 people, particularly religious congregations.

The hospitality industry is not left out in this banned and lockdown of business operation and the decision is telling on their business.

Eko Hot Blog reports that commercial activities resumed back in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, Lagos, and Ogun State, on Monday, May 4, 2020, as announced by Federal Government.

Businesses reopen as Nigeria eases coronavirus lockdown, residents return to work for the first time in more than 30 days after stringent measures were imposed to curb virus spread.

Commercial activities resumed on Monday in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, and Lagos and Ogun states after the government announced the gradual easing of restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

President Muhammadu Buhari last Monday “approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures”.

The Lagos state government said markets for non-food items will be allowed to open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Food stores will be open for business on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The shops, offices, and markets will only be open between 9 am and 3 pm.

The government is enforcing the wearing of face masks in public places, shops, and public transport.

Only the movement of food items and the travel of essential workers were permitted during the lockdown.

Travel between regions will, however, not be permitted despite the easing of the restrictions.

Schools, bars, and cinemas remain shut, while only senior government managers in Lagos are expected to return to work on Tuesday. Others will be advised when to resume their duties.

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“All places of worship are to remain closed to congregational services until further notice. This prohibition applies also to religious gatherings that may be conducted in homes, such as communal Tarawih prayers, or house fellowships,” Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced.

On this development, the hotel owners/operators, however, appealed to Gov. Sanwo-Olu to relax the lockdown on hospitality business outfits, in which the long decision is killing and frustrating operators and hotel owners.

According to a famous hotel owner and operator, Mr. Segun Osifeko, he said, If the market women and men can comply with the government directive, how much more for a formal organization setting like hotels and other hospitality outfits will not oblige to government directives?

Osifeko, the Managing Director of De Procare and De Mathew Hotel, in Noforija, Eredo-Epe, urged the Lagos State Government to peel the embargo/banned placed on hotels and outfits hospitality business outfits for us to resume to our various businesses.

He said that hoteliers have before now been complying with government directive by ensuring social distancing and regularly wash of hands by guests and customers.

“If the hotel business resume operations, Hoteliers will ensure that customers adhere strictly to the government order.

“We, hotel operators, and owners will ensure that all our guests and customers comply with the government order.

“By wearing their nose masks, maintaining social distancing, regular hand washing, and other precautionary measures, ” he said.

Osifeko, however, commended Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu efforts in the fight against coronavirus pandemic in Lagos State.

Earlier, Alhaji Luqman Balogun, President, Hotel Owners Association, Ibeju Lekki Branch, expressed his displeasure over the banned in the hospitality industry for so long.

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Although, I understand that the government’s decision was to contain the further spread of the virus in our society but it is taken so long.

Balogun said that, since lockdown has been relaxed for the market people and for other business owners, I think the hospitality business operators should be given such consideration.

“Hoteliers have been supporting and cooperating with the government to fight against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

“We will continue to support the government by ensuring that our guests and customers comply with the government order, ” he said.

He said that the industry has lost millions to the total lockdown and If it persists some operators will be forced/frustrated out of the hospitality business.

By Idris Tele-Olukoya