The Ekiti State government has announced a ban on the planned three-day kissing marathon to set the Guinness World Record in the state.

A group identified as Sugartee released an advert saying that on July 7 they will be embarking on the longest world kissing marathon in a popular amusement park in the state capital.

Reacting to the development, the state Ministry of Arts and Culture in a statement released today July 5, banned the scheduled competition of the marathon and warned all Hoteliers in the state not to allow their premises be used for such exercise. The state government warned that heavy sanctions will be placed on any hotel found to permit such an exercise in their facility.

The letter signed by the Director of Tourism Adebanji Adelusi on behalf of the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dele Ogunsemoyin noted that the planned event tagged ‘Kiss-a-thon ‘ was capable of denigrating the image of the state.

‘’Kiss-a-thon” as an event is not only absurd, unhealthy, immoral and capable of denigrating the image of the state, it is a programme that runs counter to the values of the people of the state and therefore capable of plunging our Youths morally backwards.

In view of the foregoing, the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism hereby prohibits the hosting of such event or any other events like it in any facility that wishes to continue to operate lawfully in Ekiti State.

To the above, you are hereby requested to convey the content of this Notice to the members of Ekiti State Hoteliers’ Association to effectively monitor their outlets against being used negatively to cause embarrassment to the Government and People of Ekiti State.”the statement read