Chida Hotel has refused to accommodate Nigerians evacuated from abroad as earlier agreed because the owner has moved into the hotel with his families. It was gathered that the owner had earlier agreed to the proposal made by the COVID-19 task force to accommodate the said Nigerians but along the line despite advice from the staff to accept the proposal, the owner chief executive declined the offer though it would have fetched the hotel about N48 million for the two weeks. Staff of the hotel who have not been paid their salaries since January lamented the decision of the chief executive describing him as being selfish as the earnings from the offer would have helped paid the outstanding salaries of staff. Most of the staff have been placed on compulsory leave and some have received letters from the management of the hotel that they should forget April salary.
The management of Chida had denied being part of the arrangement for the accommodation of Nigerians evacuated from abroad as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye, had last week in Abuja, listed Chida International, Bolingo, Apo Apartments, Royalty, Belvior and Barcelona Hotels, as facilities designated to quarantine the evacuees. The management of Chida International Hotel Abuja, said it is not part of the arrangement due to non-availability of space.
“It is pertinent to state that at present, Chida International, Abuja is not part of the arrangement to accommodate evacuated Nigerians from abroad, though we were contacted by the ministry but could not proceed with the plan because of non-availability of space,” the statement read. According to the hotel’s management, “at present, we have in-house guests that we had hoped would have checked out due to the easing of the lockdown, but majority who are longstanding clients have indicated their desire to continue to lodge due to our excellent in-house health protocol, therefore, could not proceed with the plan to host those returning to the country.”
While it expressed willingness to partner with the government in other areas in the fight against COVID-19, the hotel stressed that as a responsible and patriotic entity it was mindful of its corporate and social responsibility to country and society. We however wish to state that Chida International has been contributing in the fight against Covid-19 in and around the communities we are located”.
