The Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, says the ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality sector are not designed to target operators or professional associations.
According to her, the reforms are aimed at creating a stronger regulatory structure, improving professionalism and raising the standard of services within the industry.
Speaking on the controversy surrounding the institute’s recent engagement with stakeholders in Abuja, Fagade explained why a committee was established to develop a national framework for recognising, coordinating and governing professional bodies across the tourism, hospitality and travel sectors.
She dismissed claims that the move was intended to witch hunt associations, arguing that regulatory efforts are often misunderstood whenever authorities attempt to introduce order into a sector.
She said the tourism industry urgently needs a functional structure if it is to grow and compete effectively, adding that the institute’s objective is to build a system in which professional bodies and government agencies can operate within clearly defined roles.
According to Fagade, the stakeholder engagement also revealed that several associations operating within the industry were either not properly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission or had inactive records.
She said only about six or seven of the 17 associations reviewed were found to have active records with the commission, raising concerns about how the sector could properly account for its activities and contributions to the economy.
“We need to show the government what we are bringing to the table as a sector,” she said, stressing that the current reforms were only the beginning of a broader effort to organise the industry.
Fagade maintained that NIHOTOUR, as a federal government agency, had a responsibility to carry out its statutory mandate and could not afford to wait indefinitely for every stakeholder to agree before taking action.
She pointed to other sectors of the Nigerian economy where private operators play a major role but remain subject to established regulations.
According to her, aviation and telecommunications are largely driven by private sector investment, yet both operate within clear regulatory frameworks.
She also acknowledged areas where the responsibilities of NIHOTOUR and other government agencies may overlap, saying there was already an understanding that such issues would be addressed through collaboration.
Fagade said the committee was therefore expected to develop a structure that would benefit both professional associations and government agencies while creating a more organised environment for investment and growth.
She also expressed concern about the number of poorly trained operators within the tourism and hospitality industry, saying inadequate service remains one of the reasons visitors may be reluctant to return to Nigeria.
She argued that hotels and other hospitality establishments should prioritise regular staff training, adding that employees should receive professional development at least twice a year.
Fagade questioned how the industry could monitor the quality of its workforce, respond to complaints about poor service or develop clear career paths when many professionals are not properly registered.
She said the reforms were intended to eliminate unqualified operators and create a system where competence and professionalism would determine who thrives in the sector.
“We have allowed the worst of us to rule over the best of us in tourism. That cannot continue,” she said.
On calls for dialogue to resolve disagreements between the institute and some stakeholders, Fagade said NIHOTOUR remained open to engagement but would not abandon its statutory responsibilities.
She said she had continued to meet stakeholders who approached her and had been available to clarify issues surrounding the reforms.
“There’s always need to dialogue. We’ll keep talking and we’ll keep acting,” she said, adding that NIHOTOUR would continue to engage stakeholders while implementing the provisions of its enabling law.
Fagade also urged stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the NIHOTOUR Act instead of relying on hearsay, saying a proper understanding of the law would help operators identify opportunities to strengthen their businesses and contribute to the development of the sector.
She maintained that the ultimate objective was to establish structures capable of attracting more investment, creating opportunities and giving Nigeria’s tourism industry a stronger foundation for sustainable growth.
Asked about her achievements nearly two years after assuming office, Fagade identified the creation of a tourism register as one of her administration’s major accomplishments.
She said the number of people currently registered was less important than the fact that a formal register now exists.
According to her, the register provides a basis for identifying professionals within the industry and distinguishing properly recognised operators from those working outside the established regulatory structure.
