NIHOTOUR Begins Lagos-Wide Enforcement of Hospitality Certification Law

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has launched a major enforcement operation in Lagos, targeting hotels, restaurants, and other businesses within the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors that are yet to comply with mandatory certification requirements.

The initiative, which commenced earlier this week, seeks to uphold the provisions of the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act of 2022—particularly the sections mandating registration and professional certification for all practitioners and establishments operating within the industry.

In an official statement released Thursday, the institute stressed that the enforcement campaign aligns with its legal mandate to regulate and standardise practices across Nigeria’s burgeoning hospitality landscape.

Speaking on the development, NIHOTOUR’s Director of Legal Services, Mrs. Mariam Inuwa, underscored the institute’s statutory obligations under Section 5(1)(h) of the Act, which empowers it to regulate the activities of professionals in the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors. She also referenced Section 4(o), which mandates the certification of all industry practitioners to ensure uniform standards, professional integrity, and high-quality service delivery.

As part of the enforcement effort, several leading hotels in Lagos were inspected. These included Marriott Hotel Ikeja GRA, The Sojourner, Sheraton Lagos, Radisson Blu Victoria Island, Black Diamond Hotel, and FourPoints by Sheraton.

NIHOTOUR confirmed that these inspections followed the issuance of official demand letters and contravention notices to the affected establishments. Encouragingly, several of the hotels have since begun aligning with the legal requirements.

“NIHOTOUR is pleased to announce 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,” the statement noted.

The institute views the compliance drive as a crucial move to reform the industry, which has been identified as a key contributor to national development under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

NIHOTOUR concluded by reaffirming its commitment to constructive stakeholder engagement, while also vowing to ensure full compliance with the law throughout the sector.