The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) and the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) have moved to douse tensions over the implementation of the NIHOTOUR Act 2022, agreeing to bury their differences and forge a fresh partnership to professionalise Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry.
The two bodies reached the agreement after a strategic meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, where they resolved to tackle lingering concerns through dialogue, mutual respect, evidence-based engagement and due process.
The development effectively signals a new attempt to end the friction surrounding the NIHOTOUR Act 2022 and replace confrontation with structured engagement between the government institution and the organised private sector.
In a joint statement signed by the Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Dr Abisoye Fagade, and FTAN President, Dr Aliyu Badaki, the organisations agreed that all pending litigations relating to the implementation of the Act would be addressed amicably through dialogue and due process in the interest of unity within the industry.
Joint Committee To Tackle Contentious Issues
The agreement also provides for the establishment of a joint committee comprising representatives of NIHOTOUR and FTAN to examine the issues surrounding the Act, clarify areas of concern and develop practical recommendations and a mutually acceptable pathway forward.
The committee is expected to provide a structured platform for sustained consultation between NIHOTOUR and tourism industry operators.
NIHOTOUR, according to the joint statement, reaffirmed that its mandate is aimed at promoting professional standards, competence, accountability and orderly development across Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector.
The institute also acknowledged FTAN’s role as the umbrella organisation representing the organised private sector in the tourism industry.
FTAN, in turn, reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with NIHOTOUR in advancing the interests of tourism businesses, professionals and practitioners across the country.
From Dispute To Partnership
The two organisations stressed that Nigeria’s tourism industry possesses enormous potential to drive job creation, skills development, investment, economic diversification, cultural preservation and national development, but said unlocking that potential would require government institutions and private-sector stakeholders to operate as partners.
Under the new understanding, NIHOTOUR and FTAN resolved to strengthen professionalism and standards across the hospitality, tourism and travel sectors while deepening consultation over the NIHOTOUR Act.
They also pledged to support skills development, expand employment opportunities for Nigerian professionals, address areas of concern through continuous engagement and create a more predictable and investment-friendly environment for the tourism industry.
The organisations described the Abuja meeting as a significant step towards a new era of partnership and shared responsibility, insisting that the growth of Nigeria’s tourism sector is bigger than the interests of any single institution or association.
“We are united in the belief that the success of Nigeria’s tourism industry is bigger than any individual institution or association,” the joint statement declared.
The latest agreement is expected to ease tensions between the two sides and provide a fresh platform for resolving regulatory disagreements while advancing the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the sector.
