AKSG INAUGURATES HOSPITALITY MONITORING TEAM

Godwin Enekuno

In a proactive step to ensure a safer hospitality industry, the Akwa Ibom State Government on Thursday inaugurated the Akwa Ibom State Hospitality Monitoring Team in Uyo.

The 13 man monitoring team has Mr Ini Akpabio as Chairman, while Mr Anthony Isonguyo serves as the Secretary.

Commissioner For Culture and Tourism, Hon Orman Esin while inaugurating the team noted that the move was to ensure readiness of the stakeholders of the industry before the Governor gives further directives on the re-opening of hospitality outfits in the state, which are currently closed due to the dreaded covid-19 pandemic.

Hon Esin charged the team to get to work and come up with detailed guidelines and creative measures to ensure a safer, more productive hospitality industry post covid -19.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Hon Kufre-Abasi Edidem called on the monitoring team to begin work immediately because of the new realities of the time. He noted that many hospitality outfits in the state are still operating clandestinely with unhygienic standards capable of aiding the spread of the novel corona virus, and as such, the team should team up with the police to nip that in the bud.

In his address, newly inaugurated chairman of the monitoring committee, Mr Ini Akpabio said, ‘It is a new dawn for Hospitality and Allied industries in the state as focus will be on the wellbeing and safety of hospitality employees and guests, as well as our collective obligations to each other’.

Some of the guidelines proposed for Hospitality and Allied Services operations in Akwa Ibom State post covid -19 include: Provision of Hand washing points and alcohol based hand sanitizers, wearing of face mask, physical distancing, temperature check on all customers, fumigation of premises, cleaning protocols, training, preparation for probable in-house infection, and creation of a command centre.

Members of the Monitoring team include
Mr Ini Akpabio -Chairman
Mr Anthony Isonguyo -Secretary. Other members are Barr Ewa Okpo, Obong Emmanuel Titus, Obong Ekanem Noah, Mr Godwill Enyedok, Mr Aniekan Inyang, Mr Ekanem Jeremiah, Miss Ofonmbuk Odiong, Sir Aniefiok Alexander, Mr Charles Essien, Prince Willy Ibiok, and Mr Emmanuel Inyang