FG SUSPENDS NIHOTOUR ENFORCEMENT NATIONWIDE AMID INDUSTRY OUTCRY
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy has ordered the immediate suspension of all enforcement activities carried out by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) across the country.
The directive, approved by Minister Hannatu Musawa, followed a comprehensive review of NIHOTOUR’s recent enforcement operations and mounting complaints from stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism sector. This was disclosed on Monday in a statement issued by Nneka Anibueze, Special Adviser to the Minister.
According to Musawa, the suspension became necessary to restore order, protect operators’ rights, and ensure that regulatory actions are carried out strictly within the confines of the law and in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The Ministry has taken note of widespread complaints regarding NIHOTOUR’s recent compliance actions. We are committed to maintaining a stable, transparent, and business-friendly tourism environment,” she said.
“Until a full policy and operational review is completed, all NIHOTOUR enforcement activities are hereby suspended nationwide.”
The Ministry reaffirmed that it is the legally designated supervisory authority over NIHOTOUR, as established in the institute’s operational mandate. It assured industry players that all future regulatory activities will adhere to due process, professionalism, and broad-based consultation.
A multi-stakeholder engagement, the Ministry added, will soon be convened to clarify grey areas in the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act and prevent further disruptions in the sector.
NIHOTOUR, established under the 2022 Act, is tasked with setting standards, maintaining a national register of hospitality workers, issuing certifications, and enforcing compliance across hotels, travel agencies and tourism operators. Its enforcement powers have recently come under scrutiny.
In June 2025, Minister Musawa had similarly suspended NIHOTOUR’s operations following controversial incidents in Lagos, where enforcement teams accompanied by police conducted hotel raids, arrested staff and demanded registration fees. She described the move as necessary to pave the way for a “more inclusive, transparent and consultative stakeholder engagement process.”
Before the suspension, major industry associations including the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) and the Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA) criticised NIHOTOUR’s enforcement activities, describing them as heavy-handed and arguing that the NIHOTOUR Act overlaps with the mandate of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA). They also referenced a Supreme Court case questioning whether tourism regulation falls under state jurisdiction.
The Ministry’s latest suspension seeks to address these longstanding concerns as it embarks on a broader review of Nigeria’s tourism regulatory framework.
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