WorldStage— The Federal Government has urged hotel owners and managers across Nigeria to prevent their facilities from being used for unlawful activities and illicit financial flows as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
The warning was delivered by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, during his keynote address at the second edition of the JAGZ Hospitality Conference 2026 held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The conference was themed “The Hotel at the Centre: Money, Elections, Security.”
Represented by Fernandez Marcus-Obiene, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Justice Sector Reform and ICT/Digital and Innovative Technology, the AGF emphasized that the hospitality sector plays a vital role in national security and electoral integrity.
He noted that hoteliers must maintain strict neutrality and professionalism, guard against politicians using their premises as conduits for illicit funds, and assist security agencies by providing accurate data on lodgers and suspicious groups.
Adding to the discussion, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, urged operators to upgrade their security infrastructure, such as fixing blind spots in parking lots and ensuring functional CCTV coverage.
This federal directive builds on earlier warnings issued by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), which cautioned hotel and event center operators in Abuja to deal exclusively with political party leaderships recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The FCTA warned that property owners who host unrecognised or illegal organisations risk severe penalties, including the outright revocation of their land titles.
As the 2027 political cycle heats up, authorities maintain that tighter oversight of public accommodations is essential to curbing vote-buying, money laundering, and election-related violence.
