FG Orders Immediate Nationwide Suspension of NIHOTOUR Enforcement Activities, Moves to Protect Hospitality and Tourism Operators

The Federal Government has placed an immediate suspension on all enforcement operations previously carried out by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), pending a full policy and operational review aimed at restoring regulatory order and protecting stakeholders in Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industries.

The directive was issued by the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, following widespread concerns raised by operators and practitioners across the sector regarding recent enforcement trends attributed to NIHOTOUR.

According to the Ministry, the decision was endorsed by the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., after a thorough assessment of NIHOTOUR’s recent compliance activities, which reportedly generated complaints and tension within the industry.

The suspension seeks to reinforce legal compliance, transparency, and fairness in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his administration’s commitment to promoting a business-friendly environment for sustainable tourism development.

With the new directive, all forms of NIHOTOUR enforcement, including field inspections, compliance raids, demand notices, fines, sanctions, licensing and registration enforcement have been halted.

Additionally, the use of police personnel or private security operatives by NIHOTOUR for any operational activity has been prohibited until further notice.

The Ministry reiterated its statutory authority as the supervising body of NIHOTOUR, emphasizing that regulatory functions must be executed strictly within legal boundaries and approved institutional frameworks.

To ensure clarity and prevent future disputes, the Federal Government has also announced plans to convene a multi-sectoral dialogue session involving key players, industry associations, legal experts, tourism professionals, and regulatory agencies. The meeting will focus on clarifying procedural gaps and strengthening the operational guidelines of the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act.

The Ministry assured all stakeholders that future enforcement measures will be conducted with professionalism, proper consultation, and full compliance with Nigerian law, especially to safeguard the growth of the hospitality and tourism value chain, a critical contributor to national GDP, employment, and cultural diplomacy.