Hotel Registration: Tourism Minister orders suspension of NIHOTOUR’s enforcement exercise

 

…to meet with FTAN, other stakeholders

 

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, has ordered the Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Dr Abisoye Fagade, to suspend with immediate effect enforcement exercise on registration of hotels and operators in the hospitality industry.

This order, which was contained in a press statement from the Ministry, is coming on the heels of the letter to Musawa by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), calling on the Minister to direct Fagade to put on hold the exercise, pending the review of the NIHOTOUR Act 2022, which industry operators have kicked against because its entrusted over-reaching powers on the tourism parastatal.

It will be recalled that the attempt by NIHOTOUR to enforce the provisions of the Act in Lagos last week led to the disruption of the operations of some of the international hotels visited, arrest, detention and brutalisation of some of them.

The press statement noted that the decision of the Minister order the suspension of the exercise, which has caused tension in the tourism sector and put NIHOTOUR on collision course with the operators, with the Hotels Owners and Managers of Lagos Association and others, dragging NIHOTOUR to court on the matter, was; ‘‘to pave the way for a more inclusive, transparent, and consultative stakeholder engagement process, which the Honourable Minister will personally lead in the coming weeks.’’

The statement reads in parts; ‘‘While reaffirming NIHOTOUR’s legal mandate to regulate standards, maintain a register of personnel, practitioners, and professionals, and ensure compliance across Nigeria’s hospitality, tourism, and travel sectors, the Minister called for calm and mutual understanding among all stakeholders.

“The industry must be driven by standards, but our approach must also reflect our shared humanity. Compliance must not come at the expense of dialogue.

A multi-stakeholder roundtable will be convened shortly to harmonize expectations, deepen collaboration, and reposition the industry for sustainable growth in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and also his compassionate approach of tempering justice with mercy.

‘‘The Ministry remains dedicated to strengthening dialogue and strategic partnerships with all sectoral stakeholders to build an ecosystem rooted in trust, innovation, and shared prosperity.’’

Musawa FTAN and other professional bodies for their steadfast commitment to advancing sectoral growth and cohesion, and reaffirmed her commitment to supporting NIHOTOUR in its ongoing transformation into a dynamic, responsible, and industry-aligned regulatory institution working collaboratively for national development.