Group petitions Tinubu over NIHOTOUR’s activities

…Alleges suffocation by national institute

Nigeria Hotel Association, (NHA) has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over alleged activities of the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) which it viewed as dangerous to the growth and thorough operations of the NHA. 

The association alleged that the manner of implementation of the NIHOTOUR Act 2022, which, it claimed was against the nation’s constitution, placed tourism services under a residual list.
Eze Patrick C. Anyanwu, a traditional ruler and the national president of the Nigeria Hotel Association, made the allegation while briefing newsmen in Owerri, Imo State, on the ‘Agenda for the National Executives and State Chairmen Parley.’

NHA, through Anyanwu, called on the Federal Government to intervene, and use its authority to halt the “evil operation” of the NIHOTOUR which NHA viewed as being antithetical to the renewed Hope Agenda of the President Tinubu administration.

“I would like to use this opportunity to inform the Federal Government, state and entire industry stakeholders that the action of the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has been affecting the hospitality industry, especially hotels over implementation of NIHOTOUR Act 2022. 

“This is against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that put tourism services under a residual list. This action from NIHOTOUR if not stopped will seriously affect businesses in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government,” he said. 

He further said that the sector creates jobs for the teeming unemployed youths and accommodates visitors across the global, and that  NHA is committed to reposition the nation’s hospitality industry to an enviable height.

Anyanwu urged hotel owners who are yet to register with the association (NHA) to endeavour to do so at both the state and the national levels without further delay.
“Our association might be constrained to shut down hotels that fail to register with us because we cannot continue to allow such hotels to remain in business since experience has shown that some of them use their establishments to commit crime.”

According to him, the NHA will use the services of such security agencies as the police, DSS and the EFCC to whip recalcitrant hotels into line.

“We are partners in progress with the government and we are law-abiding and we will not allow any of our members to embarrass us,” he said.

However, the association has called “for more interventions like grants or bail out funds to support the Nigeria Hotel Association and its members nationwide.

“Based on our huge contribution to employment, revenue generation, accommodation of government visitors all over the world and national development, it is only fair that the government supports us,” he said.