Key Points
- Hotels across Kaduna are reporting full room bookings ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s campaign launch scheduled for Saturday.
- Several hotels said all available rooms had been reserved as visitors arrived for the APC presidential campaign event.
- Some facilities continue receiving enquiries despite having no rooms left to offer.
- The influx of visitors is expected to boost demand for accommodation and other hospitality services across the city.
Main Story
Kaduna’s hospitality industry is experiencing a surge in demand as hotels across the metropolis report fully booked rooms ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s campaign launch scheduled for Saturday.
The expected arrival of members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has driven accommodation demand across several parts of the city, leaving many hotels with little or no space for additional guests.
A survey of selected hotels in Kaduna showed that many facilities had exhausted their available rooms days before the event, while prospective visitors continued making enquiries in search of accommodation.
At Bafra Hotel in Ungwan Rimi, Manager Christopher Ugbede said all 149 rooms had been booked ahead of the visit, leaving the hotel unable to accommodate additional reservations.
A similar situation was reported at Asa Pyramid Hotel on Lafiya Road, where Front Desk Officer Janet Joseph confirmed that all 178 rooms had been reserved by guests planning to attend the campaign event.
Stone Edge Hotel on Bank Road has also reached full capacity.
Front Desk Officer Nura Abdullahi said the hotel’s 33 rooms had all been booked, forcing staff to direct prospective guests to other hotels despite continued requests for accommodation.
The demand extends beyond the city centre.
At Epitome Hotel in Barnawa, Non-Executive Director Paul Yahaya said all 88 rooms had already been occupied or reserved.
He added that the hotel was struggling to meet requests for an additional 30 rooms because existing guests were already using its available facilities.
Al-Ihsan Metro Hotel on Mogadishu Road also reported full occupancy.
According to Front Desk Officer Ambrose Ikechukwu, all 67 rooms had been booked, with 40 reservations confirmed for guests travelling to Kaduna specifically for the campaign launch.
Not every hotel linked its bookings directly to the political event.
At Butterfly Hotel in Marafa, General Manager Ibiloye Olanrewaju said the hotel’s 104 rooms had received regular customer bookings, although he did not state whether the campaign had contributed to increased demand.
The Issues
Large political events often create temporary economic activity for host cities, particularly for businesses in the hospitality and transport sectors.
Hotels, restaurants and transport operators frequently experience increased patronage as visitors arrive from different parts of the country to attend rallies, conferences or other major gatherings.
For Kaduna, the sharp rise in accommodation demand highlights both the economic opportunities and logistical pressures that accompany high-profile events.
With several hotels reaching capacity, late-arriving visitors may have to seek accommodation farther from the city centre or in neighbouring areas.
The increased movement of people also places greater importance on traffic management, security coordination and event planning.
What’s Being Said
Hotel managers across the city described an unusually high level of demand ahead of Saturday’s campaign launch.
Ugbede confirmed that Bafra Hotel had no rooms left, while Joseph reported that Asa Pyramid Hotel had exhausted all available accommodation.
Abdullahi said Stone Edge Hotel continued receiving enquiries even after every room had been reserved, reflecting the continued search for available lodging by incoming visitors.
Yahaya acknowledged that Epitome Hotel was unable to satisfy requests for additional rooms despite ongoing enquiries.
What’s Next
As Saturday’s campaign launch approaches, demand for accommodation is expected to remain high as more visitors arrive in Kaduna.
Authorities are expected to coordinate security and traffic management to support the event, while businesses in the hospitality sector continue preparing for increased customer activity.
The event may also provide a short-term economic boost for hotels, restaurants and transport providers serving visitors throughout the weekend.
Bottom Line
Kaduna’s fully booked hotels reflect the immediate economic impact that major political events can have on local businesses. While the influx of visitors presents opportunities for the hospitality sector, it also highlights the need for effective planning as the city prepares to host one of the weekend’s biggest political gatherings.
