Considering the outcry and tension that arose from the invasion of some top hotels in Lagos earlier this month, one thought that by now the situation would have gotten out of hand.
At the peak of the crisis, hoteliers even went to court to challenge the invasion, disruption of their business and detaining of their staff members.
But the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), which sent its team for the invasion and detaining of some hotel workers, insisted that its action was legal as it was enforcing the mandatory registration of staff members of hotels, ensuring their certification and the hotels as well.
The hospitality training institute, which insisted that it is now a regulatory agency, noted that its action is backed by the 2022 NIHOTOUR Act, while hoteliers argued that such enforcement is the job of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) and that the federal government lost a case at the Supreme Court over who regulates the tourism industry.
They argued further that if the constitution allows the state to do so, what is NIHOTOUR, a federal government agency, trying to do with the suspended enforcement.
Again, the hoteliers decried the way some of their high-profile staff members were treated by NIHOTOUR’s registration enforcement team.
The staff members were reported to have been arrested at their various locations in Lagos island and taken to NIHOTOUR’s zonal office in Mushin, Lagos, instead of a police station. The hoteliers were concerned about the safety of their staff as most of them were foreigners.
While the crisis was ranging, the NIHOTOUR showed no sign of relenting on the enforcement exercise, rather, its management went to the media to announce that hotels are now complying, saying the enforcement exercise has been impressive.
While both parties are at loggerheads and case in court, the intervention of the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy was timely.
Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, quickly directed the NIHOTOUR to immediately suspend all enforcement actions nationwide, following recent incidents, especially in Lagos State.
Of course, NIHOTOUR has complied, while the action has restored sanity in the industry.
While the minister is not against the national enforcement exercise over the noncompliance with the registration of hotel staff members, she noted that her directive for the suspension of the enforcement is to pave way for a more inclusive, transparent, and consultative stakeholder engagement process, which she promised to personally lead in the coming weeks.
The minister also reaffirmed NIHOTOUR’s legal mandate to regulate standards, maintain a register of personnel, practitioners, and professionals, and ensure compliance across Nigeria’s hospitality, tourism, and travel sectors, but called for calm and mutual understanding among all stakeholders.
“The industry must be driven by standards, but our approach must also reflect our shared humanity. Compliance must not come at the expense of dialogue,” Musawa disclosed.
“A multi-stakeholder roundtable will be convened shortly to harmonize expectations, deepen collaboration, and reposition the industry for sustainable growth in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and also his compassionate approach of tempering justice with mercy”.
The ministry, according to her, remains dedicated to strengthening dialogue and strategic partnerships with all sectoral stakeholders to build an ecosystem rooted in trust, innovation, and shared prosperity.
Apart from her efforts at restoring peace, she commended efforts from stakeholders, especially the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) and other professional bodies for their steadfast commitment to advancing sectoral growth and cohesion.
But she thinks that the industry should support NIHOTOUR in its ongoing transformation into a dynamic, responsible, and industry-aligned regulatory institution working collaboratively for national development.
Now there is sanity, stakeholders are asking NIHOTOUR to broaden its consultations on the enforcement and allow the inputs of the stakeholders.
Meanwhile, they appreciate the minister for her timely intervention, while hoping for her to lead the broader consultation on the issue as she promised.
