The President of Hotel Owners Forum Abuja (HOFA), Dr Bola Onigbogi has lamented that the current 45 per cent hike in electricity tariff combined with incessant power failure are gradually killing hotel business in
Nigeria and discouraging investors in the sector.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja yesterday, she said despite public outcry and Senate’s stance requesting the suspension of the tariff increment that Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) shunned the pleas and inflicted sufferings on Nigerians.
According to her, “There has been no significant improvement in power supply even with the increase”.
She maintained that hoteliers are the biggest employers of labour after the federal government stressing that hotels paying N1million monthly as electricity bill are now charged N2 million despite the economic crunch.
Onigbogi revealed that since Abuja is saturated with hotels that occupancy rate have dropped to below 30 per cent the industry might be forced to lay off staff given the present predicament.
She called on Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to reconsider the current tariff which has forced many hotels in the FCT to close down due to their inability to offset outstanding electricity bills.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Neighborhood Guest House Kado, Elder Eteng Ibiang Eteng regretted that hotel owners have become victims used by AEDC to recover losses incurred as a result of their incapacities.
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