US warning: Abuja hotels still bubble

Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja

Notwithstanding the alert issued by the United States to its citizens in Abuja to stay off some top rate hotels in Abuja following intelligence reports that the hotels might be attacked by the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram, activities continued in the usual manner at the hotels, Monday.
Our reporter, who went round the hotels last night, noticed that customers continued to patronise the various activities of the hotels.
There was also no noticeable beef-up in the security around the hotels as they were still being manned by soldiers who complemented the hotel security in checking entrance into the hotels.
At the Transcorp Hotels, soldiers were at the gate while the Police armoured vehicle that had always been stationed opposite the hotel was still in position.
The nearby Sheraton Hotel and Nicon Luxury which were named in the US alert were yet to enjoy the services of stationed armoured vehicles but customers’ vehicles were frisked before entrance.
A staff of Transcorp Hotel who spoke with Vanguard revealed that there was yet to be any noticeable change in the business activities of the hotel as patronage had come down as a result of the Sallah break.
She said: “ Before we can know whether the American warning would affect us, people have to resume work from the sallah break. That is when we will know that people are afraid to come to our hotel.”
“We read the alert as you did but our security had increased since the bombing of the UN building and some of the UN agencies moved into our Hotel for office accommodation.”
Source: Vanguard Newspaper