From Ahmad Muhammadu, Bauchi
The Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA) has called on both the federal and state governments to give them grants in order to improve their business.
National President of the Association, His Highness Eze Dr Patrick Anyanwu, made the appeal at a press conference in Bauchi.
He said many of them borrowed money from banks to run the business and high interest from banks slow down their profits.
Anyanwu, said the outcome of a recent delegate meeting held in Lagos, prove that the association is working hard to unite members as one powerful body.
“We are pleading for government grants because we are contributing a lot in the development of this country in terms of revenue, employment, and accommodating visitors from all over the world,” he said.
“The Government of Nigeria doesn’t have many hotels, it is members of NHA that accommodate their visitors from all over the world. They should think about giving us grants.
“Many of the hotels borrowed money from banks to uplift their business but revenue officials keep coming to us with multiple requests for revenue.
“We deserve to have grants because after states hotel owners are the biggest sources of revenue to the government and the biggest employers of labour.
“When it comes to employment for instance, there are hotels that employ more than 100 staff.”
He advised revenue collectors to liaise with the leadership of NHA in the states to know the caliber of hotel they demand revenue from.
“You cannot collect revenue by force and put pressure on the owners of hotels”
The NHA National President, who said the association’s goal is to speak with one voice, explained that the grants would be used to put their hotel business in order.
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