FTAN Restates Position As Lagos Hotels, Tourism Operators Clash With NIHOTOUR Over Enforcement

The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has restated its commitment to industry growth, saying its ongoing face-off with the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) is not about “fighting individuals” but about fixing laws that affect the survival of private tourism businesses.

 

The tension has been building for months between NIHOTOUR and hotel/tourism operators in Lagos and across the country.

 

—WHAT FTAN IS SAYING—

 

FTAN President, Dr. Aliyu Ajayi, and FTAN spokesperson, Badaki, said the Federation’s advocacy is focused on two things:

 

1. Review of the NIHOTOUR Act 2022

2. Review of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) Act 2023

 

According to FTAN, the problem started when the NIHOTOUR Act 2022 shifted the Institute’s core mandate.

 

NIHOTOUR was originally set up to train, certify, and register personnel in hospitality, travel and tourism. The new Act now also positions it as a regulatory and enforcement agency.

 

FTAN said it supports professionalising the sector, but insists the laws must align with “global best practice” and must not hurt private operators.

 

“FTAN’s concerns are not personal and should not be reduced to an opposition to any individual or institution,” the Federation said in a statement.

 

“Our interventions are driven by our responsibility to protect the interests of our member-associations, tourism practitioners, investors and the wider industry.”

 

—HOW THE FIGHT ESCALATED—

 

The friction intensified after NIHOTOUR DG, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, began enforcing the 2022 Act a few months after his appointment.

 

Industry operators describe his approach as “damaging” and “entirely different from his predecessor’s.”

 

Tensions boiled over in Lagos after:

 

1. NIHOTOUR enforcement team allegedly injured a staff of Federal Palace Hotel during a visit with a truckload of mobile policemen.

2. Over 70 Lagos hotels raised suspicion that the new Act was being used to impose more taxes and levies.

 

Hotel associations nationwide have since accused NIHOTOUR of “lack of due process and collaboration” in making and enforcing the Act.

 

—FTAN RESPONDS TO CRITICS—

 

FTAN said it was responding to a recent media publication by tourism commentator Frank Meke, who it accused of misrepresenting the Federation’s position.

 

“While FTAN respects the right of individuals and media practitioners to express their views, we believe that such discourse should be anchored on facts, due process and a proper understanding of the Federation’s position,” Badaki stated.

 

The Federation defended its recent advisories and cautions to members, saying it is standard practice for any responsible body to warn stakeholders about policies “perceived injurious; not in the best interest of the operators or industry.”

 

“It is therefore misleading to suggest that FTAN is uncomfortable with NIHOTOUR or its leadership simply because the Federation has raised questions about certain policies, processes or initiatives.”

 

—WHY IT MATTERS—

 

At the heart of the dispute is who gets to regulate Nigeria’s tourism workforce and how.

 

NIHOTOUR says the Act is designed to create professional standards so that only “trained, certified, and registered personnel are eligible to practice.”

 

FTAN says any reform must be done with consultation, and must protect investors and businesses already operating in the sector.

 

With tourism being a key part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, FTAN says it will continue to push for a review of both the NIHOTOUR and NTDA Acts to ensure policies don’t “hoodwink” operators.

 

For now, the cold war between government regulators and private operators continues — and Lagos hotels remain at the center of it.