The management of Lagos Airport Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, has kicked off a major redevelopment of the historic facility with the official reopening of its newly renovated Harold Block. The unveiling ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, was led by top executives of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, the hotel’s parent company.
The Group Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company, Bimbo Ashiru, said the facelift of the Harold Block is just the beginning of a broader plan to transform the hotel into a modern mixed-use destination that will combine hospitality, commercial, and residential services.
According to him, the Harold Block, which has now been upgraded, consists of 51 rooms and corridors. He explained that this section of the hotel was named in honour of the hotel’s original founder, Joseph Harold, a British businessman who established the property in 1942 as the Grand Hotel Lagos, with only five rooms.
Ashiru said the hotel has undergone several transformations over the years. In 1956, it became known as Ikeja Arms Inn and was later renamed Lagos Airport Hotel in 1976 following the Indigenisation Decree. Since then, the hotel has been under the full ownership of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, which represents the collective business interests of the six South-West states—Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, and Lagos.
He said, “Today’s unveiling marks a symbolic step, but the larger ambition is to reposition the Lagos Airport Hotel as a top-tier facility with modern amenities and multiple uses. This is not just about hospitality; we are creating a destination.”
Ashiru noted that the long-term redevelopment would turn the hotel into a multi-purpose facility, combining hotel services, conference centres, retail shops, lifestyle services, and possibly serviced residences. He said this will create more value for shareholders, boost tourism, and improve customer experience.
Representing the Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Abdulrahman Yinusa, was the company’s Executive Director and Group Chief Investment and Business Development Officer, Yemi Ajao. He confirmed that the company was fully committed to the execution of the broader redevelopment plan.
Ajao said, “What we are doing here today is just the start of a journey. The vision for Lagos Airport Hotel is bold and transformative. Over the next ten years, we plan to build a hospitality hub that features expanded hotel rooms, an apartment complex, office spaces, and a convention centre.”
He explained that the new vision was to attract customers through the integration of various services and to create a central location for hospitality, business, and leisure in Lagos. Ajao added that such a move would make the hotel a “one-stop hospitality location.”
Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lagos Airport Hotel Limited, Oyeleye Fasua, said the successful renovation of Harold Block reflects the company’s strong commitment to service excellence and customer satisfaction. He described the redevelopment as a collective effort across all arms of Odu’a Investment Group.
Fasua said, “The new rooms are just one part of the hotel’s transformation. We’ve also improved the driveway and general ambience of the hotel premises to give guests a better overall experience.”
He assured that the board remains focused on repositioning the hotel to compete strongly with other modern hotels in Nigeria’s hospitality industry. He said management was working on ensuring that the hotel meets the expectations of both corporate and leisure travellers.
The Lagos Airport Hotel, which is strategically located close to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, is one of Nigeria’s oldest hospitality facilities. With this redevelopment, the hotel is hoping to regain its relevance and attract a new generation of guests through innovation and improved service delivery.
