By Danhassan Abubakar
Stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism industry have came together to fashion out ways on how to check the unwholesome practices of some hoteliers in Bauchi State.
The stakeholders engagement was organised by the Hisba arm of the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission in collaboration with the Bauchi State Tourism Board with a view to charting a path for a responsible, compliant, and prosperous operation of hotels and recreational centers within Bauchi State.
In a welcome address before the commencement of the dialogue, Chairman of Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission Dr. Hamisu Ya’u said that the dialogue with the hoteliers has been long overdue because of the irresponsible manner some of them were carrying out their businesses which contrary Shari’a law of Bauchi State.
In his address, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Religious Affairs and Societal Reorientation Engineer Muhammad Binni Abdulkadir dialogue meeting aims to address the pressing issues of social vices and crimes occurring in some Hotels and Recreational Centers in Bauchi State.
He pointed out that The objective is to facilitate a constructive discussion among stakeholders to find ways to curtail such irresponsible practices by some of the hoteliers and foster understanding and cooperation among stakeholders
Earlier in his opening remarks, Permanent Commissioner of the Hisbah arm of the State Shari’ah Commission, Barr. Aminu Balarabe Isa said that the meeting was a shared commitment to the progress, harmony, and to collaboratively chart a path for a responsible, compliant, and prosperous operation of hotels and recreational centers within Bauchi State.
According to Isa, the objectives are:
- Regulatory and Legal Compliance: To clarify the existing legal frameworks and ensure all operators are fully aware of their obligations, from business registration to tax obligations and operational standards.
- 2. Security and Safety: To discuss and strengthen collaborative measures that guarantee the safety of guests, staff, and the wider community. This includes robust fire safety protocols, physical security, and information sharing with security agencies to maintain our state’s peace and stability.
- 3. Shariah Compliance: To foster a deep understanding of the legal and social context in which we operate. We aim to have an open dialogue on how businesses can successfully operate in a manner that is respectful, culturally sensitive, and fully compliant with the laws of our state, ensuring operations are conducted with integrity.
- 4. Community Relations: To emphasize the role of the hospitality sector as a partner in community development.
In his goodwill message, Chief Security Advisor to the State Governor said that Hotel business, when operated in a responsible manner, is humanitarian service that needs to be encouraged. But he lamented that some unscrupulous operators of hotels have resorted to giving safe heavens to criminal elements which allows them to perpetrate their neferious activities that poses security threats to the State.
He expressed his hopes that the dialogue will come up with realistic and practical avenues on how to mitigate such excesses of some of the irresponsible hoteliers in Bauchi State.
The meeting attracted participants from the Hotel Association of Bauchi State, Judicial arm of the Government, Security Agencies, Religious/Community Leaders, State Tourism Board and other relevant State MDAs.