Travel/Tourism
How Digitization Can Boost Nigerian Travel Industry
By Adeniyi Ogunfowoke
Digitization is the process of converting analogue signals or information of any form into a digital format that can be understood by computer systems or electronic devices. This information can be accessed by anyone anywhere.
Like cancer, digitization is spreading throughout every industry you can think of in Nigeria. In this vigorous and rigorous digital march, the travel industry is not excluded as it has also embraced digitization.
In spite of this, the Nigerian travel market is piggybacking existing infrastructures put in place by the government and telecommunication companies. For example, since the arrival of smartphones, implementation of favourable government policies as well as fall in internet prices, internet penetration in Nigeria has shot up. As at 2018, internet penetration is 51%.
Interestingly, this led to the entry of an Online Travel Agency like Jumia Travel which has so far revolutionised and democratised travel in Nigeria. Since then, many OTAs, hotels, tour operators, resorts, hospitality spots and other stakeholders in the Nigerian travel market have taken full advantage of digitization for customer service/support and engagement, marketing, promotion and sales.
Before digitization, you cannot book a hotel or flight online, you cannot get tangible information about Nigerian destinations and of course, tour operators like Social Prefect, Irin Ajo, Tour2Nigeria, Unravelling Nigeria, and TVP adventures among others will never exist. In fact, Nigerians will never explore local destinations. The perception that Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Istanbul are ultimate destinations will not be jettisoned.
What is different today is that digitization has undoubtedly made travel seamless. If you arrive at your destination 1am and haven’t made hotel reservations, you can easily book a room in an amazing hotel within minutes at the best price on Jumia Travel. Additionally, you can Google destinations or hotels in Nigeria and in seconds, all the information is before you to make informed decisions. This has made Search Engine Optimization (SEO) very essential for many e-commerce platforms.
Furthermore, social media, a tool for driving customer support/ engagement, cannot be overlooked. OTAs, travel agencies and hotels use it to interact with customers, resolve customer complaints as well as promote hotels and packages. The conversion is really encouraging.
While for tour operators, they tap Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to push their tours. This has given many young Nigerians the opportunity to provide much-needed publicity for previously unknown destinations and make money at the same time.
From all this, reliable and verifiable data can now be generated, deductions made and a Nigeria hospitality and travel report can be developed.
Despite the positives of digitization, there are still challenges. A key one is the possibility of e-commerce organisations relying entirely on digitization or the online market while ignoring offline. This is not good because there are still a whole lot of Nigerians who are yet to join the digital craze. Hence, they need an offline arrangement to take care of them.
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.
