Institute Says Fees Were Collected Under Statutory Mandate, Not Extorted
Abuja, Nigeria | Tuesday, 20 October 2026
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has seen recent press reports, including a front-page account in The Matrix newspaper, describing last week’s Federal High Court judgment in the HOMAL suit as ending the Institute’s “harassment” of hotel owners in Lagos. NIHOTOUR rejects that characterization and sets out the facts.
The judgment addressed a dispute over regulatory jurisdiction within Lagos State. It did not establish, and NIHOTOUR does not accept, that fees collected from HOMAL members were “extorted” or paid “under duress.” The Institute collected those fees under the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act, 2022, as part of its statutory mandate to register, certify, and set standards for the hospitality and tourism workforce nationwide.
As stated last week, NIHOTOUR is obtaining the certified judgment and, on legal advice, proceeding to challenge the ruling. The matter is therefore still active, and the Institute considers it premature for any party to present the judgment as final or settled.
NIHOTOUR’s mandate exists to protect the same workers, guests and businesses that hotel owners serve every day. A skilled, certified workforce benefits hotel operators as much as it benefits the wider industry. The Institute will not enter a public contest over labels; its focus remains on the legal process and the professional standards the sector needs.
NIHOTOUR will provide further updates as the process progresses.
Signed:
Dr Boye Longe
SA Communication
NIHOTOUR