COVID-19: Lagos government’s insensitivity to hospitality and entertainment industry is very dangerous – By Akinwale Oluwaleimu
Your Excellency, My Dear Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Covid-19 is real and no one in their right senses would dispute this. Not me, not after my personal encounter with it. I would like to appreciate the Governor on most steps taken to reduce the spread and protect lives of Lagosians but the insensitivity and indifference of the government towards some section of the economy is also very dangerous.
The entertainment and hospitality sectors are in dire need of government intervention and support as those two sectors are, arguably, the most hit by the pandemic, most especially because Lagos serves as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria and probably West Africa and huge investment had been made by practitioners of this sectors and it’s been hell for them for about a year now.
Between March and August 2020, all hotels and entertainment spots were shut down. Patronage went to zero and some hotels had to reduce staffers just to be able to stay afloat. Ikeja Hotels Ltd, owners of Sheraton Hotels, declared a loss of N1.4 billion due to the pandemic and many other three to five-star hotels lost huge financial gains too. The other smaller hotels are not left out too as they suffer the same predicament only that it was better managed as their overheads can’t be compared with that of the big hotels.
The new year has not been any better as patronage is still below par because of the curfew and restrictions imposed by the government.
Lounges and clubs are the other victims of the “seriously hit sectors” because people were warned not to patronise lounges and clubs as the virus could easily be transmitted.
We understand that these measures were taken to protect the citizenry but without commensurate palliative of whatever sort for these small scale businesses and their owners, the long-term repercussion is very grave.
For instance, the event industry has been shut down for over one year. Event planners and managers haven’t made any money for over a year while it is not any different for suppliers ranging from Decorators, Rental Companies, Private Security Companies, Technical Support Companies, Venue Owners etc who have all suffered silently for one whole year. Owners of these companies have children that attend fee paying schools; they pay rent on the properties used as offices/homes; the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) brings bills monthly; not forgetting other utility bills and wages paid on maintenance and salaries (if any staff is remaining) etc.
It is the same for Artistes, Artiste Managers, Comedians/Event Comperes etc.
The police, on the other hand, have developed a new pastime by going about at night looking for clubs, lounges and bars that are operating and harassing the owners and customers. There have been instances where customers, out of fear, leave without sorting their bills, compounding the problems of the outfit proprietors.
Meanwhile, churches and mosques are allowed to do 50% capacity while event centres and venue can only do 50 people; who does that?
The government that proclaimed a shutdown has not looked back or check what the effects have been on the event, entertainment and hospitality industries neither has there been any kind of palliative or financial assistance for practitioners.
I spoke to some of our colleagues in the UK and USA and learnt that the government has been paying them a monthly stipend so that they can survive till things get better.
We appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his team to look into the issue of the shutdown of our operations and what can be done to cushion the suffering of operators and practitioners and we hope this is done as soon as possible as you know sir, Devil finds work for the idle hands.
Thank You sir
Akinwale Oluwaleimu is an event and entertainment consultant, as well as CEO of House 30 Lounge.
