Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State promised in Lafia on Sunday to continue to provide security to protect the hospitality industry in the state.
The governor made the promise through the deputy governor, Mr Emmanuel Akabe, who represented him at the inauguration of the VIP wing of a privately-owned hotel in Lafia.
He noted that security is of topmost priority for his administration, because development would not thrive in an insecure environment.
Sule noted also that his administration had invested a lot in security so as to create an enabling environment for the private sector to conduct businesses and contribute to development.
He commended the proprietor of the hotel, Mr Markus Umbugu, for investing in his state and for generating direct employment for more than 50 youths and indirect employment for many others.
Gov. Sule said his administration would continue to equip youths and women with modern skills at the state’s newly-established skills acquisition institute as well as in other technology centres in the state.
In his message delivered by Mr Unmar Hussaini, former military Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, lauded Umbugu for reducing employment rate in the country.
Abubakar, chairman at the occasion enjoined Umbugu to maintain high quality services and imbibe good maintenance culture at the facility.
He described Umbugu as hardworking person who always pursued whatever he believed in until he achieved his goals.
He noted that the hotel compared to any other elsewhere in the country.
Responding, Umbugu said the facility was incorporated on Aug. 1, 2016 and started operation same year.
“In 2016 we started operation with 16 rooms; we added 11 rooms in 2019 and today we are inaugurating the VIP Wing with 30 rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and an exclusive bar.
“We started with 10 employees in 2016, but today we have 50 employees on our payroll,’’ he said.
Umbugu appealed to government to implement hospitality-friendly programmes to enable operators to remain in business and contribute to the development of the state.
The inauguration was attended by family, friends and business associates of Umbugu.
NAN
