The Oyo State House of Assembly, during its plenary on Tuesday, called on the Executive Arm of Government to implement a standardized guest registration system in hotels and guest houses across the state. The proposed system is to include valid identification verification and the maintenance of up-to-date guest logs accessible to authorized personnel.
This resolution followed a motion presented by Hon. Waheed Akintayo, representing Oluyole State Constituency, and co-sponsored by Hon. Rasak Mabaje and Hon. Mrs. Olubisi Michael of Ido and Ogbomoso North State Constituencies, respectively.
Hon. Waheed Akintayo Presenting the Motion on Hospitality Security at Oyo Assembly Plenary
Presenting the motion during the session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Abiodun Fadeyi, Hon. Akintayo expressed concern that hotels are increasingly being used by cybercriminals — popularly known as "Yahoo Boys" — for fraud and sextortion activities.
“Investigations have shown that some fraudsters deliberately reside in hotels for extended periods to operate undetected,” he stated. “These criminals exploit the anonymity provided by weak guest registration and monitoring systems, making it difficult for law enforcement to track them.”
He further noted that many hotels and guest houses in Ibadan and other parts of Oyo State are not properly registered with the government, despite the sector’s rapid expansion. This, he said, hampers regulatory oversight, enforcement of security standards, and compliance with existing laws.
“Mandatory registration and periodic renewal will enable the government to effectively monitor these businesses and enforce necessary security measures,” the motion emphasized.
As part of its resolution, the House directed its Committees on Security and Strategy, and Culture and Tourism to engage relevant stakeholders — including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Oyo State Hotel Owners Association — to deliberate on practical steps to address insecurity in the hospitality industry.
The Assembly also indicated that it is considering amendments to the Oyo State Hospitality and Tourism Law, 2020, to strengthen regulation and improve safety across the state’s hospitality sector.
