Nigeria hotels demolished for allegedly flouting lockdown rules
Authorities in Nigeria’s southern Rivers state have demolished two hotels for allegedly flouting lockdown rules introduced to avert the possible spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
The two hotels; Prodest Home and Etemeteh were demolished Sunday morning.
Both hotel managers have been arrested but the brother of Prodest Home Manager has maintained that the hotel was adhering to the lockdown directive.
According to media reports, Governor Nyesom Wike looked on as the two hotels were being demolished.
Despite backlash on social media, Governor Wike defended the action, adding that they had found positive cases in most hotels across the state.
“Look at the rate of infections, most of these people are found in hotels. Look at the man that died, he was at Mingi Hotel in Rumumasi. Due to that contact, we have had other seven cases,” he said.
He argued that the state government had already warned that any hotel that flouts the lockdown directive be pulled down.
It is, however, not clear if the two demolished hotels were housing people with infected cases of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 21 cases and two deaths in Rivers state.
Nigeria has so far recorded 4,399 cases of COVID-19 with 143 people reported dead.
Some residents of the state criticised the action, describing it as a sad development. They believe the owners of the hotels should have been given a fair hearing before the demolition exercise.
Below are some tweets condemning the action
BREAKING: We condemn the reported demolition of Prodest Hotel by Gov Wike, Rivers State.
Using COVID-19 to perpetrate human rights violations is executive rascality & Mr Wike must stop this now.
We’re taking legal action to hold him & his govt. to account for illegal actions.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) May 10, 2020
I’ve been reading Nigeria’s Land Use Act all evening, dear God the powers Nigerian Governors have! They are so powerful. That hotel can’t sue Wike and win 😭
— Bsa Bsika (@SayoIroko) May 10, 2020
Had to check calendar make sure it wasnt April 1st when i read this 🙂 Hotels demolished in Nigeria for ‘breaking lockdown rules’ https://t.co/BjX8MdTVNx via @BBCNews
— End-The-Lockdown (@CoronaDoubter) May 11, 2020
My take on Rivers drama; if you kicked against Lagos taking Funke Akindele to court but praise Wike for knocking down a hotel, take a long look in the mirror & say this ‘I am one of the major problems of Nigeria!’
— Chief Ojukwu (@ChiefOjukwu) May 11, 2020
I can’t comprehend the fact that a governor of a state in Nigeria will have such right to demolish someone’s hotel just because of violation of Covid-19 lockdown, is there still laws in Nigeria that protects the ordinary people?
What happens to paying fine as alternative? pic.twitter.com/IH5OppGqMS— Martins Okoukoni (@MOkoukoni) May 11, 2020
Nigeria’s brand of enforcing law can be so stupid. Burning rice, destroying frozen turkey, demolishing hotels, etc. I doubt a 10 year old would make such decisions even.
— Joe (@joezif) May 10, 2020
Demolishing hotels NO
Locking down hotels YES
In as much as we fault Wike, let’s fault the hotel owners for non compliance. Naturally we are stubborn in Nigeria and love daring but Wike went too far.What case can the hotel owners tender in court?
— Ichié Óbị💦🔥 (@CollinsObinno) May 10, 2020
1.Governor Wike’s actions today demolishing the hotels in Port- Harcourt for purportedly violating the directive of the Governor banning hotel activities not only violates the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also the doctrine of separate of powers. https://t.co/id5TBHLGLB
— Chukwujekwu (@chukwujekwu90) May 10, 2020
Governor Wike’s demolition of two hotels for flouting the lockdown rule is a destructive move!!! He could have just converted the hotels into isolation centres! #RiversState #Nigeria this is not the time to be destroying things please!
— Dr Oluwakemi Omole (@KSunshyne) May 10, 2020
Power in the hands of persons without self-discipline creates monsters in any society- Oby Ezekwesili reacts to demolition of hotels by Gov Wike
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.#clicknigeria https://t.co/jo2VygBunT— ClickNigeria (@ClickNigeria) May 11, 2020
In Nigeria, it seems like the word of our Governor don’t mean shit.
Gov Wike clearly stated that no hotel should operate, he also clearly stated the consequences of any violation.
This is to remind us to take this seriously.
This is the scapegoat so the rest can take dressing pic.twitter.com/mbjCTnkd6X— De SYNTHe 🔱🔱🔱 (@pistopee_) May 10, 2020