The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has commenced a rigorous enforcement of the hospitality certification law, targeting hotels and tourism establishments operating without appropriate staff training and certification across Lagos State.
This move, announced on Wednesday, is part of the agency’s broader effort to standardize service delivery and promote professionalism within Nigeria’s fast-growing hospitality sector.
According to the Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Nura Kangiwa, the enforcement drive follows repeated warnings and sensitization campaigns directed at hotels and other tourism outfits, urging compliance with existing laws mandating industry certification.
“Uncertified operators pose a threat to service standards and national reputation,” Kangiwa said. “We are now moving from awareness to action, and any establishment found operating in breach of the law will face appropriate sanctions.”
The law requires key staff in the hospitality industry—including managers, chefs, front desk officers, and housekeepers—to undergo professional training and certification from recognized institutions such as NIHOTOUR.
Several hotels across Lagos have already been visited by NIHOTOUR enforcement teams, with some given compliance notices and others slated for sanctions.
Industry stakeholders have largely welcomed the move, with tourism experts describing it as a “necessary step” toward enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness as a tourist destination.
NIHOTOUR said similar exercises will be replicated in other states in the coming weeks.
