The Federal Government has called on hotel owners and managers across the country to prevent their facilities from being used for illegal activities as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, appealed while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 JAGZ Hospitality Conference in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Fagbemi, who was represented by the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Justice Sector Reform and ICT/Digital and Innovative Technology, Fernandez Marcus-Obiene, said hotels had an important role to play in promoting electoral security by maintaining accurate records of guests.
Speaking on the theme, “The Hotel at the Centre: Money, Elections, Security,” the minister urged hospitality operators to cooperate with security agencies by providing relevant information in line with applicable laws.
He also called for professionalism, regulatory compliance and political neutrality among hotel operators ahead of the elections.
The convener of the conference and Group Managing Director of Charis Ultimo Hotels Limited, Lugard Agbomoagan, said the growing connection between hospitality, politics, finance and international business required operators to strengthen their security and compliance measures.
“Our central question is simple: When money, politics, security and cross-border business enter the hotel, who guides the hotelier?” he asked.
Agbomoagan explained that the conference was not intended to portray hotels as security threats but to equip operators with the knowledge needed to manage emerging risks responsibly.
He said hoteliers must understand their obligations regarding guest safety, employee protection, financial transactions and regulatory compliance, particularly when dealing with international guests and cross-border payments.
Agbomoagan added that hotels were likely to receive increased patronage from politicians, campaign teams, journalists and security personnel during the election period, making adequate preparation essential.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, also cautioned hotel operators against allowing their premises to serve as political houses or venues for partisan activities.
He noted that the anticipated increase in election-related activities required hotels to maintain effective security arrangements while remaining politically neutral.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun, who represented the state government, said the hospitality industry had recorded significant growth under the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.
Olatubosun disclosed that the number of hotels in the state had risen from slightly above 1,000 when the administration assumed office to more than 12,000, according to available data.
However, he expressed concern about the reluctance of some hotel operators to provide information needed by the government for planning and revenue generation. He urged stronger collaboration between the government and the hospitality industry.
On financial crime prevention, the Zonal Coordinator of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering in Ibadan, Toyin Ehindero-Benson, urged hotel operators to strengthen customer due diligence and compliance procedures.
She advised them to limit cash transactions, scrutinise suspicious third-party payments and ensure that financial transactions were consistent with customers’ known profiles and business activities.
Ehindero-Benson also encouraged operators to process high-value payments through the banking system and properly document transactions that meet applicable reporting thresholds.
She said the EFCC was working with compliance officers to improve communication and information sharing in the sector.
Speaking on security measures at The JAGZ Hotel, Agbomoagan disclosed that the facility operated a dedicated surveillance unit that monitored activities across the premises through closed-circuit television cameras around the clock.
He said the conference brought together security agencies, anti-money laundering authorities and hospitality professionals to develop practical responses to challenges facing the industry.
Participants also discussed the role of destination hospitality in tourism development, the protection of guests and employees, and the need for stronger partnerships between private operators and government regulatory and security agencies.
