ABUJA, NIGERIA: Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, has announced strategic agreement with John Williams Hotels & Resorts and Boulevard Hotel Group to launch Mövenpick and Mövenpick Living in Abuja, Nigeria.

Set to open in Q1 2026, the development will rise in Abuja’s Central Business District, offering a warm and welcoming destination that blends contemporary design, generous hospitality, and joyful moments of reconnection. Mövenpick & Mövenpick Living Abuja will feature 138 hotel rooms and 36 serviced apartments, designed to accommodate both short-term stays and the growing demand from multinationals and expatriates seeking high-quality long-term accommodation.

Rooted in Mövenpick’s Swiss heritage and vibrant spirit, the property will offer four dining venues, a 665-square metre grand ballroom, flexible meeting and conference spaces, a spa, fitness centre, and an outdoor pool combining business functionality with leisure appeal.

Strategically located on Constitution Avenue, the hotel will offer direct access to the Three Arms Zone and is just 30 minutes from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, positioning it as a key hub for business travel, MICE events, and diplomatic engagements in West Africa.

“We are proud to continue expanding our presence in West Africa, a market full of potential,” said Maya Ziade, Chief Development Officer, Premium, Midscale & Economy Division for Middle East, Africa & Türkiye at Accor. “This signing reinforces our commitment to Nigeria and the broader African market and brings the Mövenpick Living concept to the country for the very first time offering a new level of flexibility and comfort to long-stay guests.”

“This partnership brings our vision to life” said Chief William Agbo, CEO/Founder John Williams Hotels & Resorts. “Introducing internationally recognized hospitality standards into the heart of Nigeria’s capital while fostering opportunities for local talent.”

“Boulevard Hotel Group is proud to bring operational excellence as we manage this flagship development, setting new standards both in Abuja and across emerging markets throughout West Africa,” added Ekene Nnabuihe, Group CEO Boulevard Hotel Group.

As demand for high-quality hospitality offerings in Abuja continues to rise, the city presents strong opportunities particularly in the premium and extended-stay segments. This strategic partnership brings together Accor’s global brand leadership, John Williams Hotels & Resorts’s local development expertise, and Boulevard Hotel Group’s operational excellence to deliver a vibrant hotel and serviced residence that welcomes connection, celebration, and comfort.

The project aligns with the three partners’ commitment to responsible tourism development, focusing on local employment across skill levels and inclusive supply chain integration to support Nigeria’s growing hospitality ecosystem.

Accor currently operates four properties in Nigeria under the ibis, Novotel, and Mövenpick brands. This new signing reinforces the Group’s strategic growth ambitions in the country and adds to its diverse and growing presence across Africa where Accor today operates more than 167 properties (+32K keys) and continues to lead development across key gateway cities and emerging destinations. Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is present in more than 40 countries with over 130 hotels in its portfolio and an additional 90+ addresses in the pipeline.

President Muhammadu Buhari announced the move on 12 December Twitter saying:

“Nigeria is committed to supporting the free movement of Africans within Africa. Yesterday at the Aswan Forum in Egypt I announced that, in January 2020, we will commence issuance of visas at the point of entry into Nigeria, to all persons holding passports of African countries.”

The new group will now have a footprint spanning 15 countries with 4 300 rooms and a significant pipeline of 3 000 additional rooms. In addition, the new group now jointly employs around 2 200 people.

This news is significant for Nigeria’s hospitality industry where BON Hotels already has a stronghold with 10 existing hotels and plans to open another 22 hotels and residences over the next three years. The increased hospitality offering by a world-class group will serve to boost the region’s tourism industry and have a positive knock-on effect for the economy.

The partnership seemed a natural fit for the two groups which have both long focused on investing in and uplifting Africa. ONOMO Hotels has successfully dotted the lines between the Francophone and Anglophone markets, while BON Hotels leads in Southern and West African markets.

“Combining our current hotel holdings provides us with a huge presence across the continent. This positions us as a major player in Africa’s tourism industry. As we look to the future, we want to penetrate East Africa and further cement our leadership on the continent – especially in Nigeria as this market has immense growth potential and is strategic for ONOMO Hotels,” says BON Hotels CEO, Guy Stehlik.

Both companies have strong family backing. CEO and founder of BON Hotels, Guy Stehlik and his family have a long association with South African and Nigerian hospitality, while ONOMO Hotels owes its history to the investment by Batipart Invest – a company founded and owned by the Luxembourg-based Ruggieri family which is one of the biggest private investors in hospitality in Africa.

This strategic partnership reflects the ongoing confidence of both groups in Africa as the go-to region for economic opportunities and growth, particularly in tourism.

“An investment of this scale into Africa is immensely important for our continent’s economy and its citizens. Pipeline projects are likely to create 3 000 new work opportunities which is significant news for a continent with so much need for new jobs and skills development. Investors across the continent can also partner with the new hotel group to establish properties in a range of African countries,” says BON Hotels Executive Director for International West Africa, Bernard Cassar.

This deal will bring a greater variety of accommodation options to both business and leisure travellers, meaning the continent is able to offer more and attract further tourism. In addition, members of the BON Hotels BONami loyalty programme will now enjoy benefits at both BON Hotels and ONOMO Hotels, making the programme more appealing to both domestic and international travellers.

BON Hotel owners are excited about the possibilities that the deal brings, but also the importance of African groups investing in Africa.

“As a hotel owner, people have often asked me why I chose to invest in Africa. The answer is simple: there are still so many untapped markets and our continent is on the cusp of opportunity. To an extent, we’re ignored by overseas companies who are investing in their own backyards. The time is ripe for Africans to lead the way by investing in Africa. In so doing, we benefit from first-mover advantage.

“The deal between BON Hotels and ONOMO reflects just that. It underscores the immense opportunities in Africa and highlights our growth potential. Here are two major hotel groups who are ready to expand and who could expand anywhere. It is very telling that they have chosen to focus on Africa,” says Felicia Bona, owner representative of BON Hotel Tripod, Owweri.

The Arboretum offers a refreshing retreat away from the urban frenzy and is home to more than 300 exotic tree species and more than 100 types of bird. Just ten minutes from the city centre, its markets and museums, and 45 minutes from the airport, the hotel is ideally situated for guests to explore the city and is the ideal base for day trips and safaris.

Tim Cordon, Senior Area Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “We are thrilled to open the doors of our third hotel and first extended stay product in Nairobi. Nairobi is the economic powerhouse of East Africa and is large enough to offer multiple Radisson Hotel Group hotels, including residences. Adding our third hotel in Nairobi is in line with our strategy of adding depth to our focus countries with multiple properties and multiple product offerings. The residence is the first internationally branded extended-stay product in the city and complements our other properties in Nairobi; Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi Upperhill and Park Inn by Radisson Nairobi Westlands.”

The hotel’s 122 rooms and suites feature contemporary interiors, private balconies, upscale amenities and exclusive services like free Wi-Fi, individual climate control and 24-hour room service. They range in space between 20-133sqm, boasting splendid views of the glistening pool or lush park and garden – all set in a prime location, minutes from the heart of the city. Guests can relax and recharge in the hotel’s expansive spa, sauna, steam rooms, swimming pool and fitness centre. The hotel also offers all guests secure underground parking, in a safe location surrounded by a tranquil environment.

The hotel introduces Africa’s first Firelake Restaurant, the Radisson Hotel Group concept, which is a comfortable and sophisticated retreat offering all-day dining. For a warm beverage, Arborista offers speciality coffee and tea. Guests can also enjoy snacks and refreshing drinks at the Lounge Bar as well as the Infinity Pool Bar.

Offering the best venue for tailor-made meetings and events experiences, the hotel also provides an enhanced outdoor option at the Arboretum park. The hotel’s functional venues offer 500sqm of meetings and events space that are designed to host up to 200 guests. All meeting rooms have natural light and the latest audio-visual equipment to create a memorable gathering.

Gerard Moutou, General Manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Nairobi Arboretum, said: “We are delighted to welcome our guests to our eco-friendly hotel, tucked away in a leafy forest area, just a few minutes away from the business demand generators and city centre. The combination of our tranquil surroundings, passionate team and renowned Yes I Can! hospitality, we are the perfect base for business and leisure guests enjoying a short or long stay in our stylish hotel rooms or residential apartments.”

Read more about Nairobi – a year-round escape here: https://blog.radissonblu.com/nairobi-a-year-round-escape/

The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed earlier this week that the South African government had granted Air Peace the approval to commence flight operations to Johannesburg.

Allen Onyema, chairman of Air Peace, confirmed that the airline would commence flight operations as soon as possible to promote air transportation between Nigeria and South Africa.

The agreement according to the ministry was signed at the 9th session of the Nigeria/South Africa Bi-national Commission Summit in Pretoria on September 27.

The joint commission was established in 1999 to encourage bilateral relations between the two countries.

In time for the start of the new academic year, two Nigerian entrepreneurs were commissioned to produce 200 school bags and 100 tote bags using the recycled billboard material. The school bags were presented to children from MAYOM Wisdom Academy and Ken Ade Primary School, both located in Makoko, Lagos. The school bags were given out to primary school students between the ages of five and nine years, while the tote bags were given to the teachers. Also included in the bags was stationery and activity books from Emirates’ on-board products for children.

Emirates’ Regional Manager West Africa, Afzal Parambil, said, “Recycling and sustainability cannot be ignored if we want to leave a better planet for future generations. We have close ties with Nigeria and believe this is a meaningful way to engage our wider community and make a positive impact on society. This initiative also ties in with what we are doing on-board our aircraft by reducing single-use plastic on flights. It is gratifying to think that our advertising billboards have been reused in this creative way, that can enhance the school experience for so many children.”

He added, “It’s been wonderful to see the delighted smiles it has brought to the students, as well as partnering with local entrepreneurs and their talented teams who have worked tirelessly to make the bags and bring this vision to life. Over the years, we have introduced multiple sustainable best practices which include our sustainable blankets produced from 100% recycled bottles and a young, fuel-efficient fleet of aircraft”

The PVC Flex material is durable, strong, water-resistant, tough, and light-weighted, having good colour fastness. These qualities will ensure the bags serve the recipients for a relatively long time.

The headmaster of one of the participating schools, MAYOM Wisdom Academy, Apostle Paul Omolere Awoletan said, “Thank you Emirates for this amazing initiative, perfectly timed for the start of the new school year. It’s very satisfying to see our students carrying their own bespoke bags and we appreciate the story behind it. It will be a constant reminder of how we need to be sustainable for future generations.”

The headmaster of Ken-Ade Private Primary school, Hon. Ayeseminikan B.S.E, described it as, “Fantastic idea, and a perfect gift for students going back to school.”

The bag manufacturers who partnered with Emirates on the project, Karen Anolefo, CEO, Chitoz Limited said, “The idea of recycling is beautiful. As a small business owner, I appreciate the opportunity from Emirates to work on such a unique project that is not only utilitarian but a real example of how we can live sustainably Emirates has also done well by supporting Nigerian students; it goes a long way to build emotional connections with the community”.

Roseline Obamoyegun, whose company Ajidun Ventures, also produced the bags said, “I sincerely thank Emirates for considering me to be a part of this project. Being a single parent, the production of bags is what I depend on as a means of livelihood. Trusting me with this project is significant. I joined Emirates in saying ‘No to waste’ and ‘Yes’ to helping the less privileged.”

In 2017, Emirates introduced sustainable blankets produced from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Using patented ecoTHREAD™ technology, each blanket is made from 28 recycled plastic bottles. It is estimated that by the end of 2019, Emirates’ ecoTHREAD™ blankets would have rescued 88 million plastic bottles from landfills. Nigerian customers can look forward to seeing the blankets on board on all flights out of Lagos and Abuja.

The Health Ministry issued a press statement signed by its director of media, Boade Akinola, saying that the new e-Yellow card, which was introduced in August 2017, will become the only valid document proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever from that date.

The statement quoted the permanent secretary of the ministry, Abdulaziz Abudullahi, as describing the new card as an electronic version with enhanced security features verifiable anywhere in the world.

This, he explained, can be done by scanning the bar code or checking the card number on the yellow card portal.

“The introduction of the new e- Yellow card, otherwise known as International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), is to address the issue of fake ‘yellow cards’ which has hitherto constituted a source of national embarrassment.”

Importance of yellow card

The yellow card is a small rectangular booklet given to people who have been vaccinated against Yellow Fever.

Yellow Fever is a communicable disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The “yellow” in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some of the patients.

The symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. The disease is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Central and South America.

Nigeria is still battling to eradicate the disease as new cases resurfaced in the country in 2017.

Yellow Fever is vaccine preventable. A single dose is sufficient to confer sustainable immunity and a lifelong protection against the disease.

Once an individual is vaccinated, the person is expected to be given the yellow card as evidence of vaccination.

The initiative was announced today by Mr Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, in support of the ‘Well of Hope’ water security initiative launched during the Holy Month of Ramadan by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. 

Globally, more than 844 million people lack access to clean drinking water, equivalent to one in every 10 people on earth. Each day, over 800 children under five years of age die due to consumption of contaminated water or exposure to poor health conditions.

Mr Douglas said construction of the water wells in select locations of Nigeria, Mauritania and Sierra Leone would begin by the end of 2019 as part of Etihad’s commitment to humanitarian aid through its Corporate Social Responsibility program. “Etihad Aviation Group is committed to supporting or initiating campaigns for the betterment of communities in need, and water security is a critical issue,” said Mr Douglas. “This initiative reflects our recognition of this crisis, and our commitment to contribute in a small way to a practical solution.” Last week, hundreds of Etihad employees ‘pumped’ 20,595 litres of water through a virtual pumping device, as part of the ‘Well of Hope’ water security initiative of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, which has committed to match the virtual water volumes achieved by 20 private or public organisations in the UAE with an equivalent amount of clean water in needy remote communities.

The increased flights between Charles de Gaulle Airport and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport are part of the airline’s strategy to expand its African network.

“We will be increasing our flights on the Paris-Nairobi route to five flights a week and we are confident that we will continue this growth in the coming years,” said Arthur Dieffenthaler, Air France General Manager for Eastern Africa region.

He was speaking during an event that brought together French companies in Kenya, organized by the French Chamber of Commerce ahead of the state visit to Kenya by the French President, Emmanuel Macron.

He added that following the resumption of flights to Nairobi, the airline has seen increased demand attributable to growing trade between Kenya and France.

“Immediately we resumed flights on the Paris-Nairobi route, we recorded higher bookings with our partner Kenya Airways. Our return to this market signifies the confidence we have in strengthened ties between Kenya and France,” explained Dieffenthaler.

Air France will operate the latest generation aircraft on the route Boeing 787- 9 equipped with the state-of-the-art cabin features to ensure a superior customer experience

Set to open in 2022, the new property will be situated in Upper Hill, a popular business district in the city of Nairobi. With 200 hotel rooms and 100 hotel apartments, the upcoming hotels will be operated under the “Rotana Hotels & Resorts” and “Arjaan hotel apartments by Rotana” brands.

The agreement for the new hotel comes a month after Rotana signed up for its first property in the Republic of Zambia. The planned five-star hotel is scheduled for opening in 2021 in the heart of the south-central African country’s capital city Lusaka. When opened, the new properties in Kenya and Zambia will join the company’s portfolio of operating hotels in the African continent that includes Al Salam Rotana, Khartoum, Sudan; Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana, Kinshasa, DR Congo; and Grand Rotana Resort & Spa, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

Commenting on the agreement, Nasser Al-Nowais, Chairman, Rotana, said: “Setting foot in Kenyan market with a five-star hotel and hotel apartments is closely aligned with our vision of strengthening Rotana’s presence in Africa and bolstering our global portfolio further. We will continue to seek new opportunities to offer Rotana’s branded accommodation on the continent that is increasingly becoming popular among tourists and corporate travellers from around the world. On behalf of Rotana, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Mullion Contractors Limited for placing their trust and confidence in our abilities to manage the upcoming hotels.”

Selim El Zyr, Vice Chairman, Rotana, added: “With its promising economic growth projections of around 6 percent, Kenya remains one of Africa’s most buoyant markets and thus offers bright prospects for the hospitality sector. The signing of the hotel management agreement for a new hotels in Nairobi’s thriving business district is a key milestone for Rotana. We are optimistic that this strategic step will fuel our ambitious expansion drive in the African continent.”

Offering guests with all the comforts and the luxury for a pleasant and memorable long stay experience, both hotels in Nairobi will feature key hospitality offerings, including signature dining restaurants, executive lounge, ballroom, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, and generous indoor and outdoor space thoughtfully designed for formal and informal gatherings. Other amenities will include pool and terraces, as well as a fully equipped fitness & wellness club.

The new hotel and hotel apartments will bring Rotana’s total inventory in Africa to 2,028. With an eye to capitalizing on the potential of the continent’s burgeoning market for the hospitality sector, Rotana has planned new hotels in Angola, Mauritania, Nigeria and Tanzania which are scheduled to open by 2022.