The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has officially commenced a rigorous compliance exercise across Lagos State, focusing on hotels, restaurants, and other establishments within the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors. This initiative is in furtherance of NIHOTOUR’s statutory mandate to standardize and regulate professional practices within the industry nationwide.
The compliance drive seeks to ensure that all personnel, practitioners, and operators within the sector are duly certified and registered with NIHOTOUR, in accordance with the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act 2022.
Speaking on the development, the Director of Legal Services at NIHOTOUR, Mrs. Mariam Inuwa, Esq, highlighted the Institute’s legal responsibilities as captured in Section 5(1)(h) of the Act, which authorizes NIHOTOUR to regulate the activities of hospitality, travel, and tourism professionals in Nigeria. She further referenced Section 4(o) of the Act, which mandates the certification of all practitioners in order to promote uniform standards, professionalism, and quality service delivery within the industry.
As part of the exercise, several leading establishments were visited, including Marriott Hotel Ikeja GRA, The Sojourner, Sheraton Lagos, Radisson Blu Victoria Island, Black Diamond Hotel, and FourPoints By Sheraton. These visits followed the issuance of multiple letters of demand and contravention notices to the affected organizations.
NIHOTOUR further 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 drive is said to reinforce NIHOTOUR’s unwavering commitment to repositioning the Nigerian hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors as key pillars of national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda. It assured that it will continue to engage stakeholders constructively, while ensuring strict adherence to the laws governing the sector.
