- Reaffirms Dedication Towards Repositioning Industry Through TTM
The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has called on the Federal Government to urgently initiate the re-enactment of the Nigerian Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Act and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) Act, warning that the current legal framework has triggered confusion, litigation and slowed the growth of Nigeria’s tourism industry.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos to mark one year in office of the current FTAN administration, the President of the federation, Dr. Badaki Aliyu, said the association was committed to repositioning tourism as a major driver of economic growth through its Tourism Transformation Mandate (TTM).
Aliyu said the industry had spent decades battling fragmented regulations, weak institutional coordination and policy inconsistencies, stressing that FTAN had shifted its focus from merely identifying problems to implementing practical reforms.
“The first year of this administration has been dedicated to changing the narrative of Nigeria’s tourism industry—from one defined by recurring challenges to one driven by deliberate solutions, strategic partnerships and measurable institutional reforms,” he said.
On the lingering controversy surrounding the NIHOTOUR Act, Aliyu described the legislation as one that had generated unprecedented disputes within the industry.
According to him, “The confusion and disagreement on the NIHOTOUR Act, 2022 was inherited from the past President of FTAN. The Act and its implementation has caused more harm than good, with lots of litigations going on.”
He added that FTAN’s position was that both the NIHOTOUR and NTDA Acts should be returned to the National Assembly for re-enactment to clearly define the responsibilities of government agencies and industry stakeholders.
“We call on the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to fast-track this process as a matter of urgency in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Aliyu said.
The FTAN president disclosed that the federation had strengthened collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, the NTDA and other government agencies while also restoring its institutional relationship with the ECOWAS Commission and regional tourism bodies.
He noted that the administration had also repositioned the Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) into a regional investment platform and secured ECOWAS support for the hosting of the COPITOUR Executive Meeting in Abuja during NTIFE 2026.
Aliyu said the federation had adopted the Tourism Transformation Mandate as its strategic blueprint, strengthened its secretariat, expanded stakeholder engagement and was working to establish zonal structures to improve coordination across the country.
Reaffirming FTAN’s commitment to reforms, the federation resolved to continue advocating policy alignment, investment-friendly tourism policies, stronger public-private partnerships and closer collaboration with regional and international organisations.
“The true measure of leadership is not the number of activities undertaken but the extent to which systemic barriers are removed and sustainable institutions are built,” Aliyu said.
Listing the key achievements recorded over the past year, FTAN said it successfully developed and secured the adoption of the Tourism Transformation Mandate as the federation’s guiding framework, strengthened its secretariat, institutionalised inclusive engagement with member associations and commenced plans to establish zonal structures to deepen grassroots participation.
The federation also said it rebuilt productive working relationships with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, strengthened collaboration with the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) and other government agencies, and reinforced FTAN’s position as the umbrella body of Nigeria’s organised private tourism sector.
On the regional front, the administration said it restored FTAN’s institutional relationship with the ECOWAS Commission, expanded collaboration with COPITOUR and other development partners, and secured ECOWAS backing for the hosting of the COPITOUR Executive Meeting in Abuja during the 2026 Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE).
FTAN further disclosed that it repositioned the Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition into a broader regional investment platform by integrating its Annual General Meeting and attracting wider stakeholder participation to stimulate tourism investment across the value chain.
The federation added that it significantly improved media engagement, strengthened advocacy campaigns and enhanced stakeholder communication, resulting in greater visibility for Nigeria’s organised private tourism sector.
Despite these gains, Aliyu said regulatory and policy uncertainties remained major obstacles to industry growth.
He called on governments at all levels, investors, development partners and industry operators to work together in building “a globally competitive, investment-driven and sustainable tourism industry” capable of creating jobs, attracting foreign investment and driving Nigeria’s economic diversification.
