The Federal Government has urged hotel operators across Nigeria to strengthen professionalism, regulatory compliance and political neutrality as the country moves towards the 2027 electoral cycle.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, made the call during the second edition of the JAGZ Hospitality Conference in Ibadan, organised around discussions on the relationship between hotels, elections, money and security.

Fagbemi, who was represented at the event by the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Justice Sector Reform and ICT/Digital and Innovative Technology, Fernandez Marcus-Obiene, said hotels could play an important role in supporting security during election periods.

According to him, accurate information about people staying in hotels can assist relevant authorities when properly requested and handled in accordance with the law.

He also warned that hospitality facilities should not be allowed to become platforms for unlawful activities, stressing the need for hotel managers to understand their legal and regulatory responsibilities.

The issue is particularly relevant as hotels are expected to receive increased numbers of politicians, campaign teams, journalists, business executives and other visitors during periods of heightened political activity.

Conference convener and Group Managing Director of Charis Ultimo Hotels, Lugard Agbomoagan, said the role of modern hotels had expanded considerably beyond providing accommodation.

He described hotels as meeting points for business, tourism, investment, conferences and other activities, making effective security and regulatory systems increasingly important.

Agbomoagan said responsible hospitality required operators to protect guests and employees while also complying with financial, security and other regulatory obligations.

He said the conference was designed to bring together hospitality operators, security agencies, anti-money-laundering officials and other stakeholders to discuss practical ways of dealing with emerging challenges.

The JAGZ Hotel management also said it had established internal measures to address security and compliance risks, including an in-house legal function and a dedicated surveillance unit responsible for monitoring the hotel's CCTV systems.

Agbomoagan said the hotel also maintains relationships with security agencies and regularly trains its employees on relevant regulatory and security requirements.

The conference's focus on compliance comes as Oyo State itself is seeking better information about businesses operating within the hospitality sector.

In September, the state government announced plans to bring hospitality businesses into its tax system as part of efforts to improve data collection, revenue generation and security coordination. The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun, said the majority of hospitality businesses in the state were not registered, while some registered operators were not regularly remitting their obligations.

The state said its engagement with operators would proceed through identification, cooperation and enforcement, with the enforcement phase expected to begin in October 2026. Operators were also asked to provide monthly customer figures to help improve government data and security coordination.

Speaking during the JAGZ conference, Olatubosun again emphasised the importance of cooperation between hotel operators and government. He said the growth of the hospitality sector had created both economic opportunities and a greater need for reliable industry data.

He reportedly put the number of hotels in Oyo State at more than 12,000, compared with slightly above 1,000 when the current administration took office. That figure was presented as government data at the conference and was not independently verified in the available official material.

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, also urged hotel operators to maintain political neutrality during the election season.

He warned against allowing hotels to become centres for partisan activities that could expose the businesses and their guests to unnecessary security risks.

With politicians, campaign organisations and other political actors expected to make greater use of hospitality facilities during election periods, he said hotel managers should maintain professional standards and avoid giving preferential treatment to political parties.

The conference also focused heavily on financial crime prevention.

Toyin Ehindero-Benson, Zonal Coordinator of the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Ibadan, advised hotel operators to strengthen customer due diligence and monitor financial transactions associated with their businesses.

She urged operators to reduce unnecessary cash transactions and be cautious about suspicious third-party payments.

Ehindero-Benson also stressed the importance of ensuring that financial transactions are consistent with the known profile and activities of customers, while high-value transactions should be properly documented and handled through the banking system in line with applicable requirements.

Her advice reflects the wider regulatory responsibilities placed on businesses covered by Nigeria's anti-money-laundering framework.

The security and compliance discussions come at a time when the hospitality sector is being increasingly viewed as part of Oyo's wider tourism and economic-development strategy. The state government has said it wants the industry to become more data-driven and business-friendly while improving compliance and security coordination.

For hotel operators, the message from the conference is that preparation for the 2027 electoral period involves more than providing rooms and event spaces. Operators will also need to maintain appropriate records, protect guests and staff, comply with financial regulations, cooperate lawfully with authorities and maintain professional neutrality.

The conference organisers said the objective was not to portray hotels as inherently risky environments but to encourage businesses to develop systems capable of handling the wider responsibilities that come with their growing role in Nigeria's economy.

As political activities increase ahead of the 2027 elections, hospitality businesses are likely to remain important venues for accommodation, conferences, commercial meetings and other legitimate activities. The challenge for operators will be to accommodate that increased demand while maintaining security, compliance and professional standards.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia

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