Travel/Tourism
Capital Hotels Demands N5.5bn from 11 Plc for 51% Stake
By Dipo Olowookere
One of the hospitality companies in Nigeria, Capital Hotels Plc, will soon become highly competitive in the industry if the proposed sale of its 51 per cent stake to an energy firm, 11 Plc, formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, goes through.
11 Plc is considering investing in the company and has held discussions with the board on this and Capital Hotels wants over N5 billion for this to happen.
On Monday, June 14, 2021, the board of the company held an emergency and it was agreed that the oil giant can acquire a 51 per cent stake in the organisation.
Checks by Business Post revealed that as at Friday, June 18, 2021, according to information harvested from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, Capital Hotels has shares outstanding of 1,548,780,000 units.
The total worth of the hospitality firm on the stock exchange was N3.7 billion at the close of business last Friday as its share price closed at N2.40 per unit.
But in order to achieve its goal of being one of the leaders in the sector, the board wants the new investor to pay N7.00 per share for about 789,877,800 units of the company’s equities, which represents 51 per cent of the total shares. This will mean that 11 Plc will have to cough out about N5.5 billion to acquire the controlling stake of the firm.
In a statement signed by its company secretary, Mr Alex Ugwuanyi, Capital Hotels, however, emphasised that this transaction would still have to be approved by shareholders of the company.
It was also stressed that 11 Plc will also still have to accept to pay N7.00 for each of the company’s stock, while the current core shareholder, Hans Gremlin Nigeria Limited, will also have to agree to let go of its 50 per cent stake.
According to the notice, the main reason for accepting to sell the 51 per cent stake of Capital Hotels to 11 Plc is to enable the company to “offer the right competition in the Abuja hospitality market,” where it operates the Sheraton Abuja Hotel
“The board also agreed that in order to balance the interest of Capital Hotels Plc, Hans Gremlin Nigeria Limited and 11 Plc, the transaction could be structured with an offer for sale and offer for subscription subject to obtaining approval required from the regulatory authorities.
“The board further agreed that if the new investor accepts the conditions herein stated, an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) would be convened to get the approval of the shareholders for this transaction,” the disclosure said.
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.
