Nigerian logistics tycoon Taiwo Afolabi’s new $118.4-million hotel experiences power hiccup

The multimillion-dollar Lagos Marriott hotel recently launched by Nigerian logistics tycoon Taiwo Afolabi has experienced unexpected difficulties that discredited its quality guarantee among some customers.

On July 17, the newly-built franchise of Marriott Hotels, which is one of Nigeria’s few five-star hotels, experienced a power outage lasting nine hours.

According to The Street Journal, the hotel stated that it experienced difficulties with its new diesel electrical power generating equipment. Despite immediate efforts to restore electricity, the equipment failed to work.

The power cut affected its electrically controlled gates, forcing staff to manually open them. A host of other activities were also affected, leading some customers to check out.

Afolabi recently launched the N45-billion ($118.4 million) hotel in GRA, Ikeja, after six years of construction.

At its launch, Managing Director Janse Van Rensburg said the hotel will be managed by the franchise owner, Marriott Hotels, for quality assurance purposes.

Marriott Lagos is a 250-bed, five-star hotel built on 11 floors. With VIP lounges, a 1,000-person capacity ballroom, executive meeting rooms, a 400-person capacity car park, 206 standard rooms and 44 suites, the hotel is a partnership between Afolabi’s SIFAX Group (a conglomerate he founded in 1988) and Marriott International.

Unique features of Marriott Lagos include three presidential suites, a gym, continental restaurants and more serving the needs of high-profile customers and dignitaries.