As part of efforts to combat insecurity in Anambra State, the government has issued strict security directives to hotel owners, landlords, and landladies.
The directive, signed by the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, mandates that all hotel owners ensure every guest lodging in their facility submits a copy of a valid government-issued identification document, such as a National Identity Card, International Passport, or Voter’s Card.
“The hotel must photocopy all these documents and submit them to the president general of the community, who, in turn, submits to the local government mayor and then to the state government,” Emeakayi stated.
He further warned, “Any hotel or guest house that fails to submit these documents will forfeit his or her lodging facility to the government and will equally answer for such offence.”
Additionally, the directive requires all landlords and landladies to obtain a form from their community’s president general for each tenant occupying their houses or shops. Emeakayi emphasized that landlords and landladies must ensure they know every detail about their tenants by having them fill out the forms using any government-issued means of identification.
He added, “Any landlord or landlady who fails to submit all the forms filled by his or her tenants to the government through the President General shall forfeit his or her building and also answer for the offence committed by the tenant.”
The directive also places a significant responsibility on the presidents general of every town. “All PGs of every town must know that they are now the chairman of the security committee of Agunaechemba in their various communities and must take charge of the daily operations of Agunaechemba security outfit,” Emeakayi said. He further instructed, “Every President General must give detailed reports every month about the security operations to the government, and any PG who fails to submit these monthly reports stands suspended and will face the full sanctions by the government.”
In addition to these measures, the Special Adviser encouraged members of the public to participate in the government’s whistleblowing policy by reporting kidnappers. He announced that individuals who provide actionable information leading to the arrest of kidnappers would be rewarded with five million Naira or more.
This comprehensive directive aims to strengthen community security and ensure accountability among hotel owners, landlords, and community leaders in Anambra State.