Travel/Tourism
Sports Tournament Will Boost Hospitality Business in Nigeria—Habibah Oyarekhua
Habibah Oyarekhua, captain of the Benin Club’s golf section, said the 25th edition of the women’s national golf tournament would help boost hospitality in Edo State, Nigeria. Oyarekhua assured during a courtesy visit to the Edo government house in Benin, with some golfers from the Beninese club.
“Golf is not just a game, it’s a way for people to connect and share business ideas and do things together. Some golfers are also willing to visit the Oba Palace in Benin, “he said. The captain said that the tournament to be held from October 31 to November 3 would need the support of the state government for a successful organization.
In his comments, Philip Shaibu, Edo’s deputy governor, described golf as a game that exposes his character and gives him a lot of attention. “If you want to know who someone is, let him come play golf. After playing nine holes, you can define who this person is and help you stay focused, “he said.
“For this tournament, we will have female and male golf players who will enter Benin from all the states of the federation. Then more money will enter Edo. And those who will appreciate the money are those who work in the hotel industry because they (the visitors) will book accommodation, they will eat and probably discos and drink wine when they visit site.
Shaibu then said that the state government would support the next women’s tournament. “We will contribute because our state has become a destination of choice for all events, both professional and sports,” he said.
He recalled that in March 2019, a group of sports consultants, 5-Stars Football Consultancy Ltd, announced the organization of the first annual five-nation football tournament in six cities to promote national unity and cohesion. in the country. The tournament will be held in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Calabar and Ibadan for unity and national cohesion, said the executive director (CEO) of 5-Stars Football Consultancy,
The company’s executive chairman, Olumide Aturu, told the Nigerian News Agency (NAN) that the host cities of the tournament were Lagos, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Calabar Ibadan, and Abuja.
According to him, the tournament titled Ija Naija National Hospitality Club Cup 2019 is the general finale of the football festival combined with a series of secondary attractions exclusively in Nigeria’s best sports holiday resorts.
Aturu said a total of 16 teams in each city will participate in a series of competitive games to win medals and other prizes. “All places in each venue will be held in the city’s favorite sports centers and will be open to the public to see and support their favorite teams.
“Tickets for the grand finale depend on a successful exit from previous results in the cities, and then the best (4) teams in each state qualify for the national final.” Check out our social networks to see the editions. Complete after the Abuja Club Cup on November 4, 2018, and the Lagos Club Cup on February 10, 2019, “he said.
He said the tournament would be held at the following venues in the Port Harcourt Club Cup 2019 on Saturday, April 20th. Owerri Club Cup 2019, Saturday 27 April, Calabar Club Cup 2019, Saturday 4 May, Ibadan Club Cup 2019, Saturday 11 May 2019.
“There will be a charity donation and clothing donations in all tournament venues. This initiative aims to eradicate poverty and improve the lives of displaced people through mass sports. It also aims at achieving national unity and development and encouraging peaceful coexistence in the country, he said, “he said. Also, the Enugu Rangers International FC players have said that they enjoyed the hospitality of Lesotho’s Bantu FC, but committed to participate in the group stage of the competition.
Nigeria News Agency (NAN) reports that Bright Silas and Godwin scored the club’s two goals in Lesotho and that they were all assisted by Chidera Eze at the Confederation Cup of African Football Confederation (CAF). Some of the players who spoke to reporters Tuesday at their arrival at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu said on Tuesday that they had been treated well in Lesotho.
Club midfielder Kelvin Itoya said his host was kind to them when they arrived and made things easier for them.
“All the players were at home when they arrived in Lesotho and we had light training and we thought that was where we will start negotiating for our group stage. We are almost getting away with two goals before Bantu FC has happily reduced their score before the end of the match.”
“Thank goodness, we have returned to Enugu successfully and on Sunday we will face the final battle of the second round. I urge our supporters to support us firmly.
“Our close followers should come en masse to encourage us to victory and those who are far away should continue to pray for us to successfully move to the group stage,” he said.
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.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Emirates has become the first airline cargo carrier to deploy the Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft.
The aircraft (A6-EBK) will enter commercial service with a flight from Hong Kong to Dubai carrying over 100 tonnes of cargo, a statement from the airline operator stated.
The converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF offers 100 tonnes of payload capacity and 811 m³ of cargo volume, representing a 25 per cent increase in cargo volume over the Boeing 777-F production freighter.
At 47 pallet positions, the converted aircraft also accommodates 10 additional pallet positions when compared with the Boeing 777-F production freighter, making it ideal for transporting volumetric cargo such as e-commerce goods, which currently constitute around 20 per cent of global air cargo tonnage with further growth projected in the next few years.
The converted Boeing 777-300ERSF is the sixth new freighter, following five Boeing 777-F production freighters, to join Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet since March 2026.
As part of its ambitious expansion strategy, Emirates SkyCargo will also be taking delivery of five additional Boeing 777-F aircraft as well as one additional converted Boeing 777-300ERSF by December 2026.
Emirates SkyCargo will also be introducing three additional converted Boeing 777-ERSFs into its fleet in 2027.
“The induction of the first converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF into operational service represents the next step in the expansion of our fleet and operational agility.
“We are optimising our fleet assets by converting older Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft to meet the growing demand for air cargo capacity to transport goods rapidly across the world,” Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President, Badr Abbas, commented.
“Combined with our growing fleet of Boeing 777-F production freighters, we have already been able to scale our global freighter network from just over 40 destinations in February this year to 62 destinations currently and growing.
“We are providing our global customers with scalable cargo capacity and ultimate flexibility and connectivity when moving cargo to and through our hub in Dubai,” Abbas added.
