The Sage Hotel is the smarter offshoot of the Benin Motel Plaza nearby. Set up by the son of the Plaza’s owner, Sage had grand ambitions to raise the bar for accommodation in Benin City. It has done so with limited success. The setting is certainly pleasant; the four-story block has a large lawn (which at the weekend hosts friendly expat football kick-abouts) and a good-sized pool to the fore.

The lobby is large, and has nice touches like the Benin brass behind the reception, and a small boutique selling women’s apparel. Rooms are large, and though basic, they are equipped with flat screen TVs (with limited channels), minibars, and safes. They show some small signs of wear, and the finish level is not brilliant, however they are clean and the linen is crisp. There is a small conference centre, a formal or buffet dining room, and a casual bar and terrace.

The swimming pool area is really the centre of the hotel, and in the evenings the pool is dramatically uplit. Guests sit around the grounds drinking and relaxing, whilst colourful lizards dart along the walls. The hotel’s main issue is connectivity. During my stay Wi-Fi alternated between weak and non-existent, with staff unable to assist or offer any alternative — this could be problematic for those intending to work during their stay.