The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has called for the immediate review and overhaul of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Establishment Act 2022.
In a letter written to Nigeria’s Minister of Culture, Arts, Tourism and Creative Economy, Mrs. Hannatu Musawa, the federation called on the minister to intervene and bring clarity to the Nigerian tourism and hospitality Industry, saying the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act 2022 is currently creating confusion in the industry.
In the letter dated June 16, 2025, and signed by the president, Mr. Nkereuwem Onung, FTAN called on the Minister to act immediately and save the Hospitality and Tourism industry from chaos and imminent collapse due to the confusion of objectives, powers and roles of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) under its establishment Act 2022 (“NIHOTOUR Act” or “the Act”), as well as their conflicting interests and unconstitutionality.
“When on the 14th of February 2022, the then President of the Federation, General Muhammadu Buhari, signed the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) and the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Acts into law, there was no reason, despite the unsatisfactorily inadequate consultation with stakeholders before their enactments, to believe that the NIHOTOUR Act would generate such confusion and disorder in the industry.
“However, the reality of the inelegance of the Act is now unfolding and foreboding. Under the Act, it is not clear whether NIHOTOUR functions as a professional body, or a training/academic body, or a regulatory body, or a body covering all of the three functional areas!”
FTAN, in the letter, drew the attention of the minister to some of the inconsistencies in the act that are confusing, among which are: “Sections 4 and 5 of the Act, which specify functions and powers of NIHOTOUR, respectively. Section 6 established the Board, whose powers are also spelled out under section 9. Part VI (Sections 28 to 31) of the Act made elaborate provisions on how to become a “member of the profession.” The provisions of these sections raise a lot of questions as to whether NIHOTOUR is a professional body in the hospitality and tourism industry.
The federation concluded that with so many inconsistencies in the Act, it was impossible for NIHOTOUR to carry on with the functions and powers as presently provided in the NIHOTOUR Act 2022.
It maintained that the way forward is a complete overhaul of the NIHOTOUR Act 2022, so that NIHOTOUR can play the role only of a regulator, a professional body, or an operator in the industry, but not combine the three distinct roles.