Whilst it is true that NIHOTOUR wields enormous powers under its current mandate, those powers were conferred through a flawed process and come with considerable baggage.
Let me state this clearly: my position is not about whether NIHOTOUR possesses dual powers under the new law. It does. The questions, however, are these: Do those powers conflict with the existence and relevance of other regulatory agencies at the state and federal levels, as well as the private sector? Yes. Do they undermine the economic strength of Nigeria’s tourism industry? Yes, of course.
The issue is not merely the extent of the powers the agency currently exercises, but whether those powers serve the best interests and sustainable progress of the industry while respecting the statutory rights and legitimate interests of relevant stakeholders.
Could there be a shift in position regarding the application of its mandate to accommodate the concerns of industry stakeholders? That is a decision that only Aare A. Fagade, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy (FMACTCE), and the National Assembly can collectively address through their respective roles and responsibilities.
Aare Fagade’s stance could provide direction for the sector or plunge it into even deeper conflict.
The Honourable Minister’s intervention is also urgently needed, but any executive action must be carefully considered. An executive order may offer a way forward, although the time and effort required to resolve the underlying issues cannot be overlooked.
Today, Nigeria’s tourism industry stands at a crossroads of its own making. Beyond these immediate controversies, here is my take.
Personally, I consider manpower development—or, more broadly, capacity building in the hospitality and tourism sectors—a substantial responsibility in its own right. NIHOTOUR’s regulatory powers, however, must be understood within the limits of its statutory mandate, particularly as they relate to professional training, skills development, certification, and the enforcement of prescribed professional standards.
Against the backdrop of the confusion surrounding the industry, this is already a substantial responsibility.
But let us look beyond the immediate controversies and consider the economic possibilities. I can break down the opportunities presented by these services across the immediate, short-term, long-term, and intergenerational horizons to demonstrate why NIHOTOUR could become a trillion-dollar economic enabler—not necessarily through its own revenue, but through the value it helps create across Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism economy.
Consider the scale of the opportunity: a properly trained, certified, and globally competitive workforce; internationally benchmarked professional standards; accredited training institutions; specialised vocational programmes; hospitality entrepreneurship; workforce development for hotels, restaurants, travel services, tour operators, and other relevant subsectors; and strategic partnerships with industry operators, educational institutions, and international organisations.
Each of these areas presents opportunities for employment, enterprise development, investment, productivity, and foreign-exchange earnings. When systematically developed, they can contribute to an economic ecosystem worth many billions of dollars and potentially much more over time.
However, NIHOTOUR’s strength lies not in claiming regulatory ownership of the entire tourism industry, but in building and professionalising the human capital that drives its growth. Its authority should be exercised within the boundaries of the law, without usurping the legitimate functions of other government agencies, state authorities, professional bodies, or private-sector institutions.
The distinction is fundamental: regulating the competence and professional standards of personnel is not the same as exercising unrestricted control over every tourism enterprise, destination, facility, or commercial activity.
Nigeria’s tourism industry therefore needs to be unbundled. We must clearly distinguish training from professional regulation, professional regulation from business licensing, and both from tourism development, destination management, promotion, and investment facilitation.
When these functions are properly defined, coordinated, and efficiently implemented, NIHOTOUR can concentrate on its core strengths, develop sustainable revenue streams within its lawful mandate, and become a formidable catalyst for workforce excellence, enterprise growth, and national economic development.
The trillion-dollar argument, therefore, is not about expanding NIHOTOUR’s jurisdiction indefinitely. It is about maximising the economic value of its legitimate mandate while respecting the boundaries of that mandate.
That is where the real opportunity lies—and why the unbundling of Nigeria’s tourism industry is imperative.
**Isa Yusuf Sago is the
Founder/Executive Secretary
Welcome to Nigeria Development Initiative (WeNDI)
