Anambra State Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, Indigenous Art Works Culture and Tourism has sealed off some unregistered bars and restaurants across the state.
Correspondent Chidinma Ikeanyionwu reports that some defaulting restaurants, bars and joints were sealed off to serve as a warning to intending defaulters in the hospitality industry.

This is a follow up to an earlier workshop organized for hoteliers and restaurants owners in the three senatorial zones of the state by the ministry in order to monitor their operational activities as well as have their concrete data.

The enforcement drive started at Five Star Restaurant in Awka through some bars and joints in Club Zone where some some of the hospitality facilities were sealed due to their inability to comply with the ministry’s directive.

However there were pockets of resistance by some of the operators met by staff of the ministry claiming they were not informed and aware of the sensitization while some who attended the workshop tendered their participation certificate which exonerated their facility from being sealed.

Speaking during the enforcement drive, the Commissioner for Diaspora affairs, Indigenous art works, Culture and Tourism, Dr Christian Mmadubuko said the drive is a means of ensuring sanity in the industry and also a way of fishing out operators that are adamant in paying their dues as this is also a means of revenue generation for the state government.


Dr Mmadubuko urged defaulters to comply with government directives to avoid sealing their facilities.

Also the Director of Hospitality in the ministry Mrs. Stella Anah noted that the ministry had earlier sensitized them through the media, town criers, written summons amongst others saying that it will serve as a deterrent to intending defaulters.

She therefore called on the operators to get their facilities registered as defaulting won’t be tolerated by the government.


Earlier the Assistant Manager, Five star restaurant Mrs. Erimma Akpamgbo whose restaurant was among the enlisted defaulters said she wasn’t aware of the workshop and appealed to be pardoned promising to visit the Ministry immediately.

The enforcement drive which will continue for another two weeks is targeted at having those in hospitality industry registered for proper documentation and access.

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