‘N’Delta Crisis Threatens Hospitality Industry’

Workers in the nation’s hotel and catering services sector has lamented increasing danger posed by militancy in the oil rich Niger Delta region, to the development and investment in the hospitality industry.
The workers, under the umbrella of National Union of Hotels and Personal Services Workers (NUHPSW), yesterday said the sustained hostage-takings and militant activities in the region had impacted negatively on economy and development of hotel and tourism.
NUHPSW President, Comrade Leke Success, who made the ascertion in Abuja, at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union, lamented that series of attacks on hotels in the region had led to serious threat to lives and turned the once bustling sector to ghost enclaves.
He said the crisis is gradually grinding business activities in the region to a halt, with most entrepreneurs relocating to other regions.
“The unending crisis in the Niger Delta has continued to impact negatively on the economy, including the hotel and tourist sector.
“The attack on Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt on New Year Day in 2008, which claimed lives including hotel workers, has turned the once bustling hotel to a ghost enclave. Similarly, the Airport Hotel in Port Harcourt has been closed down, due to this unending crisis," he said.