Govt seals 6 hospitality outfits over non-payment of permits

The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture on Saturday closed six hospitality establishments for contravening statutory registration and non-payment of annual permits.

Ms Barbara Wey, the Head of Hotel Licensing Directorate of the ministry, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the offence contravened sections 4 and 9 of hotel licensing directorate.

Wey listed the locations of the outfits sealed to includes Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Airport road and Ogba axis.

According to her, event centres, nite club and hotels were closed during the three-day operation, which started on November16, 2016.

The team head said that some of the outfits were clampdown upon due to uncompleted registrations, nonrenewal of annual permits and noncompliance with statutory process.

“Some of them refuse to register their hospitality outfits and event centres after several notifications and contravention notices served by the state government since 2012,’’ she said.

Wey said that the ministry would ensure that all tourism and hospitality establishments in the state complied with registration, payment of all dues and permit.

“All defaulting tourism and hospitality operators are enjoined to comply with the registration process and pay all accrued dues to the state government,’’ she said.