Hotel Registration: Enforcement Team batters hotel staff.
….. NIHOTOUR says hoteliers complying
By Tunde Akano
The enforcement of the hotel registration exercise being carried out by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) turned bloody Wednesday in Lagos as one Ahmed was allegedly brutalised and injured by the Compliance Enforcement Team at the Federal Palace Hotel.
It was gathered that the staff had his eyes battered by the enforcement team and had to undergo emergency surgery to save his sight.
The video is too gory to watch or post.
Explaining what led to the incident, a staff member of the hotel explained, “The gentleman reportedly tried to argue with NIHOTOUR security escorts when they wanted to pick up the hotel’s general manager. This was what happened to him. He lost the eye despite emergency surgery to save his sight.”
The Director General of the Hotel Owners and Managers Association, Lagos (HOMAL), Mr Adeniyi Ologun, explained why the hoteliers are complying with the institute after the incident: “NIHOTOUR has been going round HOMAL members’ facilities since yesterday with a Toyota Coaster bus full of well-armed policemen.
“We had to advise our members not to resist NIHOTOUR and to yield to their pressure by paying in order to avoid unpleasant occurrences such as the above.
“NIHOTOUR is also asking them to complete a form of voluntary compliance/agreement within a few days; otherwise, they will be back in like manner.”
A text message was sent to NIHOTOUR Public Relations Officer Dr Ajiboye Longe to respond to the allegation.
He responded, saying, “The management of NIHOTOUR is investigating this claim, so no comment for now. Thanks.”
Meanwhile, NIHOTOUR revealed, on Wednesday, that most hotels in Lagos are complying with registration.
In a release the institute said, “NIHOTOUR has officially commenced a rigorous compliance exercise across Lagos State, focusing on hotels, restaurants, and other establishments within the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors. This initiative is in furtherance of NIHOTOUR’s statutory mandate to standardise and regulate professional practices within the industry nationwide.
“The compliance drive seeks to ensure that all personnel, practitioners, and operators within the sector are duly certified and registered with NIHOTOUR, in accordance with the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act 2022.”
Speaking on the development, the Director of Legal Services at NIHOTOUR, Mrs Mariam Inuwa, highlighted the Institute’s legal responsibilities as captured in Section 5(1)(h) of the Act, which authorises NIHOTOUR to regulate the activities of hospitality, travel, and tourism professionals in Nigeria. She further referenced Section 4(o) of the Act, which mandates the certification of all practitioners in order to promote uniform standards, professionalism, and quality service delivery within the industry.
“As part of the exercise, several leading establishments were visited, including Marriott Hotel Ikeja GRA, The Sojourner, Sheraton Lagos, Radisson Blu Victoria Island, Black Diamond Hotel, and FourPoints By Sheraton. These visits followed the issuance of multiple letters of demand and contravention notices to the affected organisations.
“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,” she said.
This compliance drive, Inuwa said, reinforces NIHOTOUR’s unwavering commitment to repositioning the Nigerian hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors as key pillars of national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda. The Institute will continue to engage stakeholders constructively while ensuring strict adherence to the laws governing the sector.
