The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has rejected claims that it harassed hotel owners in Lagos, insisting that fees collected from members of the Hotel Owners and Managers Association of Lagos (HOMAL) were part of its statutory regulatory duties.
The institute also confirmed that it would challenge last week’s Federal High Court judgment in the suit involving HOMAL, saying the legal process was still ongoing.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, NIHOTOUR’s Special Adviser on Communication, Dr Boye Longe, said the judgment concerned a dispute over regulatory jurisdiction in Lagos State but did not establish that fees collected by the institute were extorted or paid under duress.
The clarification followed media reports describing the judgment as an end to what was characterised as NIHOTOUR’s harassment of hotel owners in the state.
NIHOTOUR maintained that it collected the fees under the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act, 2022, which empowers it to register, certify and set professional standards for workers in the hospitality and tourism industry nationwide.
The institute said it was obtaining a certified copy of the judgment and would proceed with a challenge based on legal advice.
It cautioned against presenting the ruling as a final resolution of the dispute while further legal steps were being considered.
NIHOTOUR defended its regulatory role, arguing that professional standards and certification benefit hotel operators, workers and guests by promoting a skilled workforce across the industry.
The institute said it would not engage in a public dispute over descriptions of its actions, adding that its priority remained the legal process and the promotion of professional standards in the hospitality and tourism sector.
It promised to provide further updates as the case progresses.
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