By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Days after the tragic stampede that sent shockwaves through Ikere-Ekiti, fresh details have emerged suggesting that what happened may have gone beyond a failure of crowd control.
Behind the chaos and loss, a more troubling picture is beginning to unfold — one that raises serious questions about the very foundation on which the facility at the centre of the incident was operating.
The President of the Hoteliers Association of Nigeria, Ekiti State chapter, Mr. Akin Abimbola, has now revealed what he described as a shocking discovery: the hotel where the incident occurred was allegedly operating without proper registration or regulatory approval.
According to him, Emirates Crown Hotel was neither registered with the Ekiti State Government nor affiliated with the Hoteliers Association, as required under the Ekiti State Tourism Regulatory Law (2020).
“The hotel is not registered in the state. It is an illegal hotel. If it had been registered, we would have guided its operations professionally and ensured proper standards were followed,” Abimbola said.
The revelation, he noted, points to deeper structural lapses that may have contributed to the incident, beyond the immediate circumstances of the event itself.
Abimbola further criticised the management of the facility, insisting that basic safety measures — including proper crowd control, security arrangements, and standard operational procedures — were either inadequate or entirely absent.
He explained that compliance with regulatory requirements is not merely procedural, but essential to ensuring safety and professionalism within the hospitality industry.
According to him, registered hotels are expected to adhere to strict operational standards, including the engagement of trained personnel across key departments such as front office, banqueting, kitchen operations, and security management.
“Running a hotel is not just about investment. It requires professional engagement. There must be proper SOPs, trained personnel, and emergency response systems such as first aid facilities to prevent avoidable tragedies,” he added.
In response to the development, the association disclosed that it is working with relevant authorities to identify and clamp down on unregistered hospitality businesses operating across Ekiti State.
A joint task force, Abimbola said, is expected to be deployed to enforce compliance with the state’s tourism regulatory framework.
He also advised prospective investors in the hospitality sector to prioritise professional management and regulatory compliance, warning that cutting corners could result in avoidable crises.
While expressing sympathy to families affected by the incident, Abimbola stressed the need for stricter enforcement of existing laws to prevent a recurrence.
“We sympathise with the families of those affected and pray that such an incident does not happen again. However, we strongly condemn unprofessional and illegal hotel operations,” he said.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the owner of the hotel has been remanded by a magistrate’s court, pending further legal proceedings.