Hoteliers urge FG to reintroduce fuel subsidy payment

The Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA) on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to reintroduce fuel subsidy payment to marketers to allow hoteliers remain in business.

Patrick Anyanwu, National President of NHA, made the call in a telephone interview with the newsmen on Tuesday.

According to Anyanwu, fuel subsidy removal which brought about hike in price of fuel has posed serious threat to the hospitality industry as operators no longer break even in business.

“Rather than increase tarrifs and fuel price as well commodities, the federal government should re-introduce fuel subsidy.

“Fuel subsidy removal has dealt with us, coupled with increment in electricity tariff.

“We call on the federal government to revert to payment of fuel subsidy to marketers so that we can access fuel at cheaper rate.

“We have been suffering in silence, we need an intervention promptly. Most hoteliers have laid-off some of their staff, many do unthinkable things to stay in business,” he said.

Anyanwu, however, advised members of the association to continue to uphold the “Project Nigeria”, regardless.

He advised political leaders to also address anti-masses policies and ameliorate the effect of current challenges on the masses.

To assist the federal government in its move to stop lodging of underage girls in hotels, Anyanwu mandated all hotel owners across the federation to register with NHA.

He said the registration would enable government and the association to effectively monitor the implementation of the policy.

He noted that the association was committed to clamping down on lodging of underage girls as well as other nefarious activities usually linked to hotels.

He advised his members to desist from lodging underage girls but work toward moving the nation forward as well as promoting its treasured values.