Saviour Adugba
It might be weeks since the gradual ease of the COVID-19 restrictions was announced by the President-Buhari-led administration, but hotels along the airport road axis in Lagos are still ensuring strict adherence to COVID-19 procedures as advised by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
A visit to many hotels around the airport axis showed that the hotels were indeed adhering to the laid down policies, and ensuring strict compliance by their visitors.
When Business A.M. visited Westview Hotels, Stop Over Motels, JoyGate Hotels, Golden Tulip Airport Hotel and Presken Hotels and Suites along the international Airport Road in Lagos, the story was all the same. At the gate of the hotels one is greeted with large signs, all reinforcing the same message, “No Masks, No Entry.” And when you get inside, security operatives take your temperature measurement, direct you to wash your hands, and apply hand sanitizers before you are allowed access into the main premises of the hotels.
The strict adherence to government policies is particularly fulfilling as the federal government just lifted the ban on international flights on September 5. Consequently, one can find satisfaction that since the hotels around the airports are doing their due diligence in screening visitors for traces of COVID-19 symptoms before allowing them access to the hotels, there are lower chances of carriers of the novel virus sneaking into the country unnoticed.
A front desk officer at Golden Tulip Hotel who did not identify herself told Business A.M. that things are starting to pick up after the lifting of restriction on international flights. She said that visits to the hotels have been low since March, when the government instituted a lockdown procedure that affected many sectors, including a temporary ban on international flights. She however noted that things are beginning to look up, and that they (hoteliers) are hoping that the situation will get better by the end of this month.
