Travel/Tourism
Africa’s First Social Travel App, TrekBuyFly, Goes Live
By Dipo Olowookere
What type of trip do you crave? Would you take a local trip across Nigeria, experience the beach by boat, climb Olumo rock, splash around in one of Nigeria’s beautiful waterfalls, or simply spend the day being pampered or at an event with friends?
Or perhaps plan your dream holiday around the world; glacier walking in Iceland, running with the herd in the Serengeti, tasting tea in China or much, much, more?
Nigeria and indeed Africa’s first Social Travel App, TrekBuyFlyTM satisfies all your travel, rip and group hangout wishes with one click. A simple swipe across your phone screen is the answer to all your travel wishes.
The TrekBuyFlyTM app was specifically built for the Nigerian and African market and helps users get off the beaten track or find the most pocket friendly trips, with student discount options and last moment sales! All of this whilst keeping friends updated through social media. The Application is available for download in the Google Playstore and the Apple App Store.
“Today’s traveller wants immediate answers. We want to know who’s in town when we arrive, what there is to do? We want to know the coolest places to hang out, the secret bars and see a little of the city too!” says Lola Adefope, General Manager of Business Travel Management Limited, developer of TrekBuyFlyTM app.
She continues, “We first came up with the idea when our classic clients kept calling us from their destinations after their meeting was done or shopping was completed, they would ask, ‘What else can we see, where can we just relax? What is outside the hotel?’TrekBuyFlyTM app gives you these answers!”
When asked why it’s called the Social Travel APP she replied, “Let’s face it, Africans are social, we like doing things together or carrying each other along! It’s the African way; it is especially the way we are in Nigeria! So when we built this, we decided to make group trips and hanging out doing other activities a lot less complicated.”
Amongst the long-term goals of developing the TrekBuyFlyTM app is to encourage Nigerians to travel and experience our own country and the world beyond our borders as well as utilising the app to improve internal tourism development in Nigeria.
At an elaborate corporate event in Lagos, TrekBuyFlyTM app was officially launched in two interconnecting waterside venues simultaneously. After a wine evening cocktail at Raddison Blu Anchorage Hotel Lagos, VIP guests were transported by luxury boat across the lagoon to an invitation only star-studded party at Tivoli Gardens in Ikoyi.
On arrival- guests posed on the red carpet then wandered through the TrekBuyFlyTM Amazing Maze for a thrilling experience. One guest said “The maze was great! There were surprises in each corner as you found your way around. We saw jugglers and the African corner with palm wine and even met a Sheik who told us Amazing Maze secrets!” another guest said “All events should be this much fun!”
Another guest who repeatedly roamed the maze said; “I saw my friend post online that there was a mirror selfie corner! How did I miss that? “. “We love the metaphor of the TrekBuyFlyTM maze- with the APP we are making our travel less complicated, planning our trips and meeting up with friends doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful at all, it’s easy now with TrekBuyFlyTM in our pocket!”
In continued celebration of the TrekBuyFlyTM App, TrekBuyFlyTM will be running competitions to send lucky winners on a fully paid holiday. Simply download the TrekBuyFlyTM app from the Google Playstore or the Apple App store and choose which holiday you want to win! It’s that simple! #Trekbuyfly
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to introduce V-Pass, a biometric facial recognition system designed to make passenger processing faster, safer and more seamless across its domestic airports.
According to FAAN, the new technology will allow passengers to verify their identities through facial recognition after a one-time enrolment, reducing reliance on physical identification documents and shortening queues through automated electronic gates.
The authority said the system is expected to enhance airport security while improving the overall travel experience for domestic passengers.
FAAN added that V-Pass has been developed with data privacy at its core and is compliant with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The agency described the initiative as part of its commitment to delivering smarter, technology-driven airport services and said nationwide sensitisation and rollout updates would be announced in due course.
Airports in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates already deploy facial recognition technology for processes such as check-in, security screening, immigration and boarding, so the move also aligns Nigeria’s aviation sector with a growing global trend towards contactless travel.
These systems have been adopted to improve operational efficiency, strengthen security and enhance the overall passenger experience.
For FAAN, the deployment of V-Pass forms part of its broader digital transformation agenda aimed at modernising airport operations and accommodating rising passenger traffic.
Experts say that beyond improving convenience, the authority expects the biometric platform to strengthen identity verification, reduce the risk of impersonation and support more efficient airport security, while maintaining compliance with data protection.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 14.12 per cent stake in Ikeja Hotel Plc has been acquired by Honeywell Group Limited, a notice on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has revealed.
Honeywell Group took up the part of the hospitality firm through one of its affiliates known as HGL Real Estate Limited.
Ikeja Hotel, in the disclosure filed with the NGX on July 2, 2026, said the stake comprised 305,323,525 units of its equities.
“Ikeja Hotel hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the general public that it has received notification from HGL Real Estate Limited, an affiliate of Honeywell Group Limited, that it has acquired 305,323,525 units of Ikeja Hotel Plc’s shares, representing 14.12 per cent shareholding in the company,” the notice stated.
Ikeja Hotel is one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality investment and hotel management companies with premium hospitality assets.
It operates two leading hospitality organisations in Lagos, the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Balmoral Convention Centre.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 10 hospitality establishments, including hotels and restaurants, were sealed on Wednesday by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The affected businesses are located in different locations in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the metropolis, Business Post learned from a statement from the agency.
It was stated that they were sealed by LASEPA for persistent violations of environmental regulations despite repeated warnings, abatement notices, and several opportunities to comply with the agency’s directives.
According to the notice, the enforcement exercise was carried out in line with the directives of the Lagos State government to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws and to safeguard public health.
The affected facilities were said to have breached various environmental regulations, including noise pollution, air pollution, unlawful discharge of untreated effluent, obstruction of official duties, among others.
LASEPA closed the premises of Granduer Meridian at Obasa Akiniyi Street, Oluwaga, Ipaja for non-compliance with the agency’s directives; Lasola (Spazio Bar), located on Ipaja Road, Fatolu Bus Stop, Ipaja, was sealed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives; Millennium Restaurant, located at Gate Bus Stop, Ipaja, Ayobo, was shut down for non-compliance with directives; O2 Exquisite Suites & Tower on Jimoh Akinremi Street, Jimoh Bus Stop, Akowonjo, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; and Chirozz Hotel & Suites, located on Samuel Street, Akowonjo, by Vulcanizer Bus Stop, Egbeda, was closed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives.
In addition, House 7 Hotel, located at Remi Akande Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with LASEPA’s directives; House 48 on Isiba Oluwo Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; Exclusive Hotel, located at Ishan Kimishe, Akesan Bus Stop, was shut down by non-compliance with directives; Sabola Ventures Limited, Iocated at Km 11, LASU–Isheri Road, Igando, was shut down for operating without evidence of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), and discharging untreated effluent into public drains; and City Int’l Motel, located at Chief Olu-Adegbite Street, off Oladun Street, Council Bus Stop, Idimu, was sealed for non-compliance with directives.
