Ibis opens new 120-room hotel in Lagos as government calls for patronage of local suppliers

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commissioned a newly constructed 120-room Ibis Hotel in Lekki Phase I, describing the investment as a demonstration of investors’ confidence in the state.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the hotel’s opening reflected confidence in Lagos, Nigeria’s economy and the capacity of local investors to develop facilities that meet international standards.

The governor recalled that the Ibis brand had been part of Lagos’ hospitality industry since 2013, when it opened its 165-room hotel on Allen Avenue, Ikeja. He said the new Lekki facility further underscored the area’s growing importance as a destination for business, tourism and investment.

According to him, Lekki has become one of the state’s most vibrant areas, with developments such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Free Trade Zone, corporate offices, technology companies and creative enterprises driving economic activity and increasing demand for quality hospitality services.

Sanwo-Olu said the new hotel had created more than 150 direct jobs, while several others would benefit indirectly through businesses supplying goods and services to the facility, including farmers, food suppliers, transport operators, laundry businesses and artisans.

He said the investment aligned with the state government’s T.H.E.M.E.S.+ development agenda, which seeks to create an enabling environment for businesses to grow and investors to thrive. He also urged the hotel management to prioritise local suppliers and continue training and employing young Lagosians.

Sanwo-Olu congratulated the Chairman and Chief Executive of Ibis Hotel, Otunba Olufemi Okenla, on the project and urged the management to maintain the standards associated with the Ibis brand. Okenla said the facility was built to international standards, with soundproof rooms and modern amenities.

The hotel was dedicated by Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, founder of Kingsway International Christian Centre, who prayed for the success of the business, its management and staff. The event was attended by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, traditional rulers, captains of industry, family members, friends of the hotel owner and other dignitaries.