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CSO Issues Ultimatum to NPA, Agura Hotel Abuja to Compensate H & H For Properties Destroyed by Fire

Published

6 years ago

April 10, 2019

CSO Issues Ultimatum to NPA, Agura Hotel Abuja to Compensate H & H For Properties Destroyed by Fire

The Empowerment for Unemployed Youths Initiative (EUYI) in collaboration with other sister civil society organizations in a press statement made available to the media by the spokesman Comrade Solomon Adodo on Tuesday 9th of April, 2019, called on the Nigerian Ports Authority and management of Agura Hotel, Abuja, issued seven days ultimatum to compensate the management of H & H Integrated Services Limited after its building within the hotel was engulfed by flames in February 2019.

The Initiative, through this medium, calls on the hotel’s management to recall that it entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with H & H Integrated Services Limited, – a company wholly owned by Comr. Humphrey Onyima, the publisher/CEO of Leadership Scorecard magazine, a member of the EUYI.

Without question, it is on record that Comr. Onyima had, through so much toil and strain, established a business, selling snacks and other FMCG while utilizing the same property as his personal office. Records further attest that aside the space provided; Onyima had to construct the said structure which housed his investments and this with the approval of Agura Hotel, at personal cost to himself. We were thus elated when his business took off in January 2018.

While we still rejoiced with him, we received with shock the mind-numbing news that his business structure, investments and properties within Agura hotel premises were gutted by fire, with nothing salvaged. We are further pained that the response of the security and emergency teams was slow and, at best; hence, the fire could not be stopped; an action that put not just the hotel but the lives of its guests in danger.

We are further made aware that, in accordance with the terms specified in the MoU signed by both parties, aside the rent rate of Six Hundred Thousand Naira (600,000.00) per annum, H & H was obliged to a monthly service charge of ten thousand naira (N10,000) which, ordinarily, should cater for such ancillary needs as security and emergency response. Howbeit, we are left perplexed as to why Agura Hotel’s team was unable to rally to save H & H property while it burned.

Information available to us shows that H & H had suspended its operations for sometime, owing to the fact that electricity supply to its business premises was disconnected by Agura Hotel. As at the time of the fire, no staff of H & H was around and the hotel management failed to even notify H & H prior to the reconnection of the structure to power supply which ostensibly led to the fire incidence.

On the heels of this and in consideration of the fact that no measures of respite were put in place for H & H, we herein call on the management of Agura Hotel to expedite measures for the compensation of H & H over the loss incurred as a result of negligence displayed by the management of Agura Hotels.

In addition, we have gathered that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has taking over the management of Agura Hotel prior to the time of entering contract with H & H, thus, making the D.G NPA the Chairman of the said Agura Hotel; we hereby humbly appeal that this measure of resolution be emplaced within seven (7) days of this notice.

Failure to do this would communicate to us that the management of Agura Hotel have only chosen to victimize a hitherto unemployed youth who sought a legitimate means to earn a living and, as such, we shall be left with no other option but to resume protests within Agura Hotel premises in Abuja

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

5 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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