By Seun Ibiyemi
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has rejected media reports describing a recent Federal High Court judgment in a suit involving the Hotel Owners and Managers Association of Lagos (HOMAL) as an end to the alleged harassment of hotel owners in Lagos, insisting that the case remains active.
The Institute said the judgment did not establish that fees collected from HOMAL members were extorted or paid under duress, describing such interpretations as a misrepresentation of the court’s decision.
In a statement signed by its Special Assistant on Communication, Dr Boye Longe, NIHOTOUR said some press reports, including a front-page account published by The Matrix newspaper, had characterised the ruling as ending the Institute’s alleged harassment of hotel operators.
NIHOTOUR, however, maintained that the judgment addressed a dispute over regulatory jurisdiction within Lagos State and should not be interpreted as a judicial finding that the fees collected from hotel owners were unlawfully obtained.
According to the Institute, the fees were collected pursuant to the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act, 2022, which empowers it to register and certify hospitality and tourism practitioners and establish professional standards for the workforce nationwide.
The Institute said it was obtaining a certified copy of the judgment and, acting on legal advice, would challenge the ruling.
It therefore cautioned against presenting the judgment as final or the dispute as conclusively resolved, noting that the legal process was still ongoing.
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“The matter is therefore still active, and the Institute considers it premature for any party to present the judgment as final or settled,” the statement said.
NIHOTOUR defended its regulatory role, arguing that its mandate was designed to protect hospitality workers, guests and businesses by promoting professional competence and certification across the industry.
It said a skilled and certified workforce would benefit hotel operators as well as the wider hospitality and tourism sector, stressing that professional standards remained central to the Institute’s responsibilities.
The Institute added that it would not engage in a public dispute over the descriptions used in media reports but would focus on the legal process and the professional standards required to strengthen the industry.
NIHOTOUR said it would provide further updates as the legal proceedings progressed.
