Hotels majorly provide the lodging and accommodation needs of expatriates, interstate travelers, foreigners, etc. within a country or a state. Nigeria is made up of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) and each of these states together with the FCT has an array of hotels distributed across it.
These hotels can either be five-star, four-star, three-star, and so on. But then, as many do ask out of information-seeking, which state in Nigeria has the most hotels? This article has been written to give a clear and detailed answer to this question.
Which state has the most hotels in Nigeria?
Lagos State is unarguably the state that has the most hotels in Nigeria. With 1,164 hotels, Lagos State has more hotels than the next top four states combined.
Lagos State is Nigeria’s commercial capital and the country’s most populous state with an estimated population of 21 million people. Among the 36 states in Nigeria, it’s Lagos state that generates the highest internal revenue and this is evident in the state’s GDP.
The busiest airports and seaports are strategically located in Lagos State which is the reason why it’s the state that attracts the most local and foreign investments. Also, the state is the most popular outside Nigeria, hence, it easily attracts expatriates, foreign celebrities, high profile individuals, and other categories of people.
When the aforementioned set of individuals travel to Lagos, they need lodging and accommodation for the duration of their stay and this is what hotels primarily provide. So It’s no surprise that Lagos State has the most hotels in Nigeria. Lagos State has 1,164 hotels but only 22 are five-star hotels while the rest are lower-star hotels.
Hotels in Lagos are scattered across different parts of the state, with the five-star hotels located in highbrow areas of Lagos such as Ikoyi, Lekki, Ikeja, Ajah, Magodo, Victoria Island, etc. After Lagos State, the next top 4 states with the most hotels in Nigeria are:
- Abuja (370, 6 five-star hotels)
- Port Harcourt (228, 5 five-star hotels)
- Ibadan (281, 2 five-star hotels)
- Calabar (177, 1 five-star hotels)
The most expensive hotels in Nigeria
Here are the top 10 most expensive hotels in Nigeria:
- The Lagos Continental Hotel – N982,585 Per Night
- Transcorp Hilton, Abuja – N964,600 Per Night
- Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos – N508,484 Per Night
- Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel, Lagos – N453,473 Per Night
- The Wheatbaker, Lagos – N441,530 Per Night
- Oriental Hotel, Lagos – N450,000 per night
- Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos – N413,300 per night
- Nicon Luxury, Abuja – N394,490 per night
- Sheraton Hotel, Abuja – N388,330 per night
- Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt – N237,524 per night
Number of hotels in Nigeria
According to the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Duke Edem, there are currently about 1,700 registered hotels in the country, with a total in excess of 20,000 rooms and having an average of 85% occupancy rate.
What is the name of the first hotel in Nigeria?
The first hotel in Nigeria was called Lagos Airport Hotel. In 1942, it started out as an owner-managed hotel with 5 rooms and bearing the name “Grand Hotel Lagos”. In 1956, under the ownership and management of Mr. Joseph Harold, a Briton, the hotel was renamed “Ikeja Arms Inn”. In 1961, after it has been incorporated, the hotel became Lagos Airport Hotel Limited.
The tallest hotel in Nigeria
The tallest hotel in Nigeria is Lagos Continental Hotel which stands on 22 floors. Lagos Continental Hotel is a five-star hotel located at Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. The hotel contains 358 rooms, 37 suites, and a Presidential suite.
Conclusion
Lagos State attracts all and sundry from different walks of life and this is why it’s shouldn’t be surprising for the state to have the most hotels in Nigeria. As of 2022, Lagos State boasts of 1,164 hotels – more than the next top four states with the most hotels – with only 22 of them being five stars. Most of these hotels are located in highbrow areas of Lagos such as Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki, Ikeja, Ajah, Magodo, etc.