The Deputy Chairman, Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA) and Chief Executive Officer, Star Rise International Hotel, Alhaji Yahaya Idris, has decried the hike in the price of diesel and poor electricity supply in Badagry, Lagos State.
Idris told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Badagry Wednesday that many hoteliers would be forced to close down if the situation continued.
According to him, if the increase in the price of diesel gets to N1, 000 per litre and electricity is not available, very soon, hoteliers here will have to close down and find other things to do.
“Today in Badagry, electricity supply from a Distribution Company like Eko Disco is an alternative to generators; instead of using generator as alternative to Disco.
“This is because for close to three weeks here in Agelasho area of Badagry, we have not had electricity supply for just one hour.
“Though we are connected to electric poles, yet no supply.
“There is no time that Badagry enjoys regular electricity supply. This is not good for our business,” he said.
Idris said that hotel business was supposed to be a hospitality business; meant for travelers, saying that adequate supply of electricity was inevitable.
He restated if the price of diesel did not come down, many hoteliers would be forced to sack their staff.
“Hoteliers are the biggest employers of labour in Badagry. If the price of diesel does not come down, many will be forced to cut their staff strength.
“Presently, I am spending N80, 000 daily on diesel while using N14,000 worth of petrol to power the generator from morning till evening.
“Today, the price of a litre of diesel in Badagry is N725.
“Altogether monthly, I am spending over N2 million to buy diesel and petrol for generators. One can also imagine the level of wear and tear.
“One funny thing about hotel is that if any customer comes in and there is no electricity, they will turn back.
“There are occasions when just one person will come and you still have to put on the generator,” he said.
The hotelier called on the Federal Government to look into the price of diesel and also appealed to Discos to increase power supply to Badagry.
The industrialist urged the Federal and State Governments to reduce the multiple taxes paid by hoteliers in Badagry.
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