crisis Archives - Eglobalnews

Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria applauds FG’s timely intervention in MOWAA crisis

eglobalnews — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 11:30:42 +0000

The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has commended the Federal Government of Nigeria for its prompt and decisive intervention in the recent crisis surrounding the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) in Benin City, Edo State.

The tourism federation particularly applauded the leadership and swift coordination of the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, whose timely engagement with both the Edo State Government and the Presidency helped to quickly de-escalate tensions and prevent a potential national embarrassment.

Following the Minister’s intervention, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the constitution of a high-level Presidential Committee, chaired by Musawa, to develop a comprehensive framework for resolving the issues surrounding MOWAA and restoring stakeholder confidence.

The crisis reached a flashpoint last week when protesters and some hoodlums disrupted the planned activities of the Museum, forcing security agencies to evacuate foreign visitors and other dignitaries from the venue.

In a statement signed by FTAN National President, Dr Aliyu Badaki, the Federation commended both the President and the Minister for acting promptly to preserve Nigeria’s global image at a time when the nation is working hard to project itself as a secure and investor-friendly destination.

“The intervention has not only saved Nigeria from international embarrassment and a possible diplomatic row, but also reinforced confidence in the integrity of Nigeria as a safe and welcoming destination for tourism, investment and cultural exchange,” FTAN said.

However, it cautioned that the committee’s work must be guided by fairness, justice, transparency and urgency, stressing that Nigeria’s credibility before the international community depends on how the matter is promptly resolved.

“The world is watching. The tourism industry is on trial, and the committee’s approach will either strengthen global trust in Nigeria or deepen scepticism about our governance and investment environment,” FTAN noted.

FTAN urged the committee to grant all parties fair hearing, avoid political interference, and communicate its outcomes openly to sustain confidence among foreign donors, cultural partners and the Nigerian public.

“Nigeria is at a crossroads. The speed and transparency with which this crisis is resolved will determine how investors, partners, and tourists perceive our nation,” the statement added.

It further emphasised the need to safeguard Nigeria’s fragile tourism and creative industries, warning that mishandling the MOWAA dispute could jeopardise ongoing efforts to attract global partnerships, cultural restitution and investment in heritage infrastructure.

“Our tourism industry is fragile and must be protected. Everything possible should be done to ensure that our partners, donors, and investors do not lose faith in Nigeria’s cultural and creative environment,” FTAN said.

The statement concluded with a call for unity and renewed commitment toward building a thriving cultural tourism and creative economy that can empower Nigeria’s youthful population and position the country as Africa’s premier cultural destination.

“History beckons. Let fairness, diplomacy, and justice prevail. The success of this process will not only define MOWAA’s future but also Nigeria’s standing in the global tourism and cultural community,” FTAN declared.

FTAN is the official umbrella organization representing the private sector in Nigeria’s tourism and related businesses.

It serves as the primary liaison between government agencies and the organized private sector for policy formulation and implementation in the tourism industry.

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NIHOTOUR Hotel Registration: HOMAL laments disruption of business, detention of members

eglobalnews — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:21:23 +0000

The Hotel Owners and Managers Association of Lagos (HOMAL) has decried the disruption in business and arrest of its members in Lagos by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism’s (NIHOTOUR). NIHOTOUR’s action, according to the institute, was over the non-compliance with its directive for HOMAL members and their staff to register with the institute. HOMAL however, called on the Federal Government to call the leadership of NIHOTOUR to order. It alleged that staff of some of these hotels were on Tuesday, June 10 illegally detained at the Lagos zonal office of the institute in Mushin, Lagos for hours, saying such action is capable of sending wrong signals to investors in the hospitality business and truncate the steady growth in the hospitality industry that the country has been experiencing. The Secretary General of the association, Mr. Adeniyi Ologun, while speaking to the media on the issue, described the actions of NIHOTOUR as illegal since there is a Supreme Court judgment on the role of the federal government on the issue of tourism in Nigeria, and also due to the pendency of the case before the court. Ologun said: “We know that NIHOTOUR made demand that members of HOMAL, among other hotels, should register. They said the registration would commence with the top management members that they should register with NIHOTOUR so that the institute can certify their qualification so to say. They said the enabling law of NIHOTOUR, that is the NIHOTOUR Act 2022 requires that all practitioners. HOMAL said that this might be against the ruling of the Supreme Court ruling in 2013 which specifically made tourism and hospitality subject to state legislations. So, in the course of the exchange, like every responsible organization, we decided to go to court to find out whether their request is validly made or not. So, we approached the court, and the court proceedings commenced on May 21, 2025. At the court, after the exchange of legal documents, the case was adjourned to September 30, 2025. I remember HOMAL lawyer specifically informed the court that NIHOTOUR has been forceful for the registration and certification of our members, which the court needs to give order that all parties maintain status quo. So, that was the position when we left the court. “Only go for us to be informed by many of our members like the Sheraton, Marriot, Radisson Blu Anchorage, Four Point by Sheraton, Oniru and others that NIHOTOUR has invaded their premises with armed policemen, barricaded their entrances, disrupted their operations and insisted on taking some of their management staff to follow them.”Asked whether some staff of these hotels were arrested, Ologun replied: “Well, I don’t know what NIHOTOUR will call it; we know that some of the workers of our members were picked up. When I called the man said to be in charge, one Mr. Ibe, he said those picked were at NIHOTOUR office in Mushin. So, I came her to the zonal office. I have been here since 12:30pm today; everybody said they could not do anything that they were following orders.”Asked what was the requirement for a hotel to get registered with NIHOTOUR and whether the institute was making any demand, Ologun explained: “When I spoke with our members that were arrested, if I will call it arrest, they said they were asked to pay N2.5 million before they could be released.”At the NIHOTOUR zonal office in Lagos, fierce looking police officers mounted the gate, scrutinizing those who want to enter the premises of the institute. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NIHOTOUR Dr. Ajiboye Longe was contacted for his reaction to the complaints made by HOMAL. Longe made reference to the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act of 2022. The NIHOTOUR spokesperson was also asked why some of the staff of hoteliers were being detained in their zonal office instead of a police station, he replied: “NIHOTOUR has communicated repeatedly to all hospitality, travel and tourism concerns across the country, especially all those that our compliance and enforcement team has visited in Lagos today. Whatever actions that were taken are well within the` legal authorization and the office of the IGP (Inspector General of Police). Asked why not take the detained hotels’ staff to the police station instead the zonal office, Alonge replied: “This question can only be answered by the Director General.” He later added that “They have been notified beforehand. The act allows them to be detained and processed at the NIHOTOUR Zonal Office before further moved to the police force command. However, I have been informed that most of those that were arrested today have on administrative bail by the police.”However, reacting to this development, a professor of hospitality and tourism at Atiba University, Oyo, Professor Wasiu Babalola said while there is need to regulate the hospitality sector, the approach in enforcement is wrong as it is capable of sending the wrong signal to the international community: “When you are enforcing, you cannot be selective in enforcement. Because by this action you are sending wrong signals to the international community that in enforcement, you are only targeting some brands. You are trying to drive some brands away. We need to be careful. If we are not careful, the enforcement may take us ten steps backward from where we are.”

*Culled: Africa Travel Herald

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