By Henry Oladele
The Revamped Sailors’ Lounge in Lagos has become a beehive of clients following its luxury and sophistication that has become the centre of attraction, the founder, Mr Eyitayo Fakehinde, has disclosed.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Lagos, Fakehinde said that the lounge has a huge potential of enhancing the tourism industry to contribute to the nation’s Internal Generates Revenue.
“Already, our recently revamped lounge has attracted lots of clients from within and outside the shores of Nigeria, ” he said.
Fakehinde, who’s also the President and founder of Sailors’ Lounge, appealed to the Federal and State Governments to provide grants and allocate specific budget for the hospitality industry.
According to him, the government should allocate a specific budget for the industry and provide grants, subsidies, or low-interest loans to businesses in the sector.
He added that the funding could be used for infrastructure development, marketing campaigns, training programmes, and other initiatives aimed at boosting the industry.
“The government can make low interest loans available to people within the industry and improve power supply.
“We see the concessions the oil and gas industry and exporters are getting, but the hospitality industry is not encouraged in anyway.
“Infact, I believe the tourism sector is under attack as we have too many fees and taxes to pay.
“With the increased price of raw materials, growing inflation, increased price of petrol and diesel, increased light cost etc, it is becoming more difficult to run any business within this space,” he said.
He, however, urged the government to encourage the business owners in the industry.
He said that the business owners in the hospitality industry had been able to contribute positively in the society, hence, financial support by the government would be appreciated.
“For instance, at sailors lounge, we have contributed to the society and community by employing over 100 staffers.
“Sailors Lounge was once a popular refuse dump in lekki phase 1, it was an abandoned land and caused a lot of environmental pollution.
“Now, it’s a beacon of light for both the hospitality industry and real estate in Nigeria and Africa in general.
“As a businessman within the hospitality industry, it’s important to constantly reinvent yourself,” he said.
While advising the youths, Fakehinde enjoined them to do better by contributing to the development of the country.
“We are the government. The government is made of human beings that have chosen to serve.
“If we do not choose to develop Nigeria with our contributions to any sector, who will?
“We see lots of Nigerians investing all their funds outside the country, and won’t put any in Nigeria, I think that is wrong.
“Let’s do better. Real estate is a great way to invest, as it is inflation proof.
“The hospitality sector has grown tremendously from when we started, but there is still space for growth and more investment is needed,” he said.
He said people had flown into the country, just to visit sailors lounge.
“When they see the pictures, they are amazed. Most foreigners that come say they were told about the place by a friend.
“Nigeria has a long way to go when it comes to tourism, but with places like sailors, tourist and fun lovers have one more option to visit,” he added.
NAN reports that the sailors lounge started in 2012 and a revamp was carried out in November 2023 after 11 years.
This was necessary to improve the aesthetic appeal of the building and to reinvest back all gains over the years into the property, to ensure it had a great ambience for the modern time we are in.
Sailors Lounge also partners with Lekki Phase 1 authorities to maintain the admiralty road and the park by the Lekki phase one entrance, to endure a more clean environment. NAN
