The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy has announced the immediate suspension of all enforcement activities carried out by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) across Nigeria. The decision, approved by Minister Hannatu Musawa, comes after a comprehensive review of recent NIHOTOUR operations and growing stakeholder concerns in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Minister Musawa stated that the suspension aims to restore order, protect the rights of operators, and ensure that regulatory activities align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. She emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining a stable and transparent business environment for tourism.
“All NIHOTOUR enforcement activities are hereby suspended nationwide until a full policy and operational review is completed,” the Minister explained, acknowledging widespread complaints regarding recent compliance actions by NIHOTOUR.
The Ministry reiterated its role as the supervising authority of NIHOTOUR, which was established under the NIHOTOUR (Establishment) Act of 2022. This Act mandates the Institute to set industry standards, maintain a register of hospitality workers, and ensure compliance among hotels and tourism operators.
In previous months, enforcement actions led to heavy-handed practices and numerous arrests, raising concerns among industry stakeholders, including the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria and the Nigeria Hotel Association. These groups argued that NIHOTOUR’s mandate overlaps with that of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, which already regulates hotel registrations.
To address these concerns and prevent future disruptions, the Ministry plans to convene a multi-stakeholder engagement to clarify ambiguities in the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act.
