Nigeria’s luxury hospitality market is growing steadily and quietly with strong investor confidence, regional business travel, and a growing appetite for premium experiences among Africa’s elite.
Despite a drop in overall ranking, Nigeria is now second on the 2024 Hotel Development Index with 7,622 rooms across 50 new hotel projects.
This is driven by the aggressive growth strategies of international brands like Marriott International, Hilton, Radisson Hotel Group, and Leva Hotels, with Lagos leading development and Abuja trailing in project execution.
Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital and most populous city, remains the hotel investment hub, attracting global chains and local entrepreneurs. Its strategic location, international airport, and corporate presence have made it a magnet for luxury hotel development, particularly in Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Ikeja. Abuja, the political capital, is stalled in pipeline projects, many of which are still in pre-planning stages.
Against this backdrop, many Nigerian business moguls, foreign investors, and regional conglomerates are behind some of the country’s most expensive hotels.
Here’s a listing in no particular order of fifteen owners redefining Nigeria’s luxury hospitality in 2025.
- Owners of the Wheatbaker Hotel
- Cost per night N231,000-N618,045
The Wheatbaker, which opened in Nigeria in 2011, is a luxury boutique hotel owned and developed by Legacy Hotels & Resorts. Located in the affluent Ikoyi district of Lagos, it marked a significant milestone as Nigeria’s first art hotel.
With 65 tastefully designed guest rooms, The Wheatbaker offers a blend of comfort, sophistication, and cultural richness, attracting both local and international guests. Nightly rates range from N231,000 to N618,045, depending on the room category.
The hotel was named in tribute to Amos Shackleford, the property’s former owner, who was known for his wheat-baking business.
Legacy Hotels & Resorts is primarily owned by its founders, Andy Townsend and Jim Gordon, who together hold an 80% stake. Haider Jaffer, a fellow director, investor, and client, owns the remaining 20%. Additionally, Ensemble, a stakeholder in the business, has been involved in a legal dispute with the founders over company control. Despite corporate complexities, The Wheatbaker remains one of Lagos’s most iconic and culturally vibrant hospitality destinations.
Now I know the owner of Bon Hotels and locations it extends. The price per night is actually for exquisite Business men. Wonderful piece very insightful
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