Hot SourceOlawaleAjimotokan in Abuja
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, HannatuMusawa, has directed the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) to immediately suspend all enforcement actions nationwide following recent incidents in Lagos State where hotel businesses were disrupted.
Following the ugly developments arising from the evasion of some hotels in Lagos and disruption of their business by the agents of NIHOTOUR over the non-compliance with the registration of their staff members, the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) had formally written to the minister, demanding an immediate review and overhaul of NIHOTOUR Establishment Act of 2022, and seeking peaceful resolution to save the industry.
In a directive at the weekend, Musawa directed NIHOTOUR to immediately suspend all enforcement actions nationwide.
The decision, she said, paves the way for a more inclusive, transparent and consultative stakeholder engagement process, which she will personally lead in the coming weeks.
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,” she said in a statement issued yesterday.
The statement noted that a multi-stakeholder roundtable will be convened shortly to harmonise expectations, deepen collaboration and reposition the industry for sustainable growth in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The ministry said it remained dedicated to strengthening dialogue and strategic partnerships with all sectoral stakeholders to build an ecosystem rooted in trust, innovation, and shared prosperity.
Musawa commended the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (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.
