The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has launched a major compliance enforcement exercise in Lagos State, targeting hotels, restaurants, and other businesses in the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors. This initiative aims to enforce the provisions of the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act 2022, particularly sections mandating certification and registration of professionals and establishments operating in the industry.
According to the Director of Legal Services at NIHOTOUR, Mrs. Mariam Inuwa, the move is long overdue and part of the institute’s statutory mandate to standardize and regulate professional practices across Nigeria’s growing hospitality sector. The Act authorizes NIHOTOUR to regulate the activities of hospitality, travel, and tourism professionals in Nigeria, as captured in Section 5(1)(h). Furthermore, Section 4(o) of the Act mandates the certification of all practitioners to promote uniform standards, professionalism, and quality service delivery within the industry.
Several high-profile establishments in Lagos were visited during the compliance sweep, including Marriott Hotel Ikeja GRA, The Sojourner, Sheraton Lagos, Radisson Blu Victoria Island, Black Diamond Hotel, and FourPoints by Sheraton. These visits were preceded by official letters of demand and contravention notices issued to the concerned organizations. Notably, some of the targeted hotels have already begun the process of aligning with the law. NIHOTOUR announced that Marriott Hotel, The Sojourner, Radisson Blu, Black Diamond, and FourPoints by Sheraton have all commenced the process of registration and certification, in line with regulatory expectations.
This compliance initiative is seen as a critical step toward sanitizing the industry, which is increasingly recognized as a pillar of national development under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. NIHOTOUR emphasized that it will continue to engage stakeholders constructively while ensuring strict adherence to the laws governing the sector. The institute’s certification and licensing process aims to inject sanity into the industry’s operations and provide practitioners with confidence in acquiring prerequisite qualifications.
By partnering with relevant organizations, such as the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), NIHOTOUR is working to strengthen standards in the hospitality and tourism industry. This collaboration includes developing a Professional Certification and Licensing Practice guide framework for certified practice of professionals in the sector. The certification process will be carried out by government-recognized bodies, with NIHOTOUR as a training provider and coordinator of the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skill Council of Nigeria, and ITPN as an awarding body.
