The Federal Government has stopped all enforcement operations carried out by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, following rising complaints from operators in the tourism and hospitality sector.
The suspension was approved by the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa. In a statement on Monday, her Special Adviser, Nneka Anibueze, said the move followed a full review of NIHOTOUR’s recent compliance activities.
According to the minister, the halt is aimed at restoring order and ensuring that the agency operates strictly within the law. She said the ministry had received many complaints over the way NIHOTOUR carried out its duties in recent weeks.
Musawa said, “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. Until a full policy and operational review is completed, all NIHOTOUR enforcement activities are hereby suspended nationwide.”
The ministry also stressed that it remains the supervising authority over NIHOTOUR, both by law and by the agency’s gazetted mandate. It assured operators that any regulatory step taken from now on will follow due process and ongoing consultation with the industry.
The statement added that a multi-stakeholder meeting will be held to address unclear areas in the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act and to prevent future disputes.
NIHOTOUR was created under the 2022 Establishment Act and is responsible for setting industry standards, keeping a register of hospitality workers, issuing certifications and enforcing compliance across hotels, travel agencies and tourism-related businesses. Its powers include staff registration and, when needed, enforcement visits.
Concerns about NIHOTOUR’s methods have grown in recent months. In June 2025, Musawa suspended its enforcement activities after incidents in Lagos where compliance teams, backed by police, stormed hotels, arrested workers and demanded registration fees. The minister said the decision was meant to open the way for a more transparent and inclusive consultation process.
Industry groups such as the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria and the Nigeria Hotel Association have long argued that NIHOTOUR’s mandate clashes with that of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, which states already use to regulate hotels. They also criticised what they described as heavy-handed enforcement and pointed to a Supreme Court reference on whether tourism regulation falls under the states.
The latest suspension is expected to calm tensions as the Federal Government begins a wider review of the rules guiding the sector.
