Verami Hotel Barnawa marks one year anniversary, urges government to support hospitality industry
By Austine Agbo Emmanuel
Kaduna.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with economic headwinds and the search for sustainable growth drivers beyond oil, stakeholders in the hospitality industry have again called on government at all levels to create a more enabling environment for private investment to thrive.
This call resonated strongly at the first anniversary celebration of Verami Hotel Limited, Barnawa, Kaduna, held over the weekend, where business leaders and industry players highlighted the sector’s potential to contribute meaningfully to employment generation and economic stability if properly supported.
Speaking at the event, the Hotel Manager, Mr. Igoche Godwin, said the milestone was a testament to resilience and dedication in the face of mounting operational challenges confronting businesses in the hospitality sector.
Mr. Igoche lamented the burden of multiple taxation, describing it as one of the major constraints facing operators nationwide. According to him, “tax and levy obligations have risen from ₦5,000 to as high as ₦25,000 in some cases, collected by federal, state, and local government agencies,” a situation he said discourages entrepreneurship and limits expansion.
He urged the government to streamline tax regimes, stabilize power supply, and provide adequate security, noting that such steps would not only help hotels remain competitive but also attract tourism and investment into local communities.
Also speaking, Engineer Abdulkareem Aliyu, who was a special guest, commended Verami Hotel for setting a standard in service delivery within a short time. He described the establishment as “a model of excellence that reflects the entrepreneurial spirit Nigerians are known for,” adding that small and medium-scale hospitality enterprises play a key role in diversifying the economy.
The event attracted key stakeholders from the hospitality and security sectors, as well as representatives of professional associations and community leaders, with renew call on government to boost the industry for revenue generation.
