Premier is by far the grandest hotel in Ibadan, both in terms of facilities and location. It sits at the crest of Mokola Hill, affording it views across the corrugated iron rooftops of Ibadan.

The curving driveway, grand white frontage, mosaic wall and cantilevered entrance all give the guest a sense of arrival. The hotel lobby, like the rest of the hotel, is fairly 70s in both style and decoration, but it’s fairly understated and has stood the test of time relatively well.

The rooms are large and slightly bare, but they have large balconies from which to admire the view of the city. They are equipped with flat-screen TVs and slow but usable wi-fi. Beds are large and comfortable and the air-conditioning is effective. The bathrooms are not great; they have a bathtub with a handheld shower attachment rather than a stand-up shower facility, and they show some signs of wear and tear.

Outside space consists of a small kids’ pool, a larger pool with terraced seating, and bar areas set around a couple of mature trees in a well-tended garden. It’s a great spot that gets busy on weekends with non-guests, mainly local Nigerians looking to cool off in the pool and take in the view.

A small but reasonably well-equipped business centre occupies the far end of the lobby, and the hotel has a variety of conference rooms catering to between 30 to 350 persons.

Premier doesn’t rise to the level an international hotel nor even to the level of many of the Lagos hotel offerings, but it still warrants its reputation as the best in Ibadan.