The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has rejected claims that a recent Federal High Court judgment brought an end to its alleged harassment of hotel owners in Lagos, insisting that the fees collected from members of the Hotel Owners and Managers Association of Lagos (HOMAL) were imposed under its statutory mandate.
In a statement dated October 20, 2026, and signed by its Special Adviser on Communication, Dr Boye Longe, the institute disputed media reports describing the judgment as a victory against the alleged harassment of hotel operators.
NIHOTOUR said the judgment addressed a dispute concerning regulatory jurisdiction within Lagos State. It maintained that the ruling did not establish that fees collected from HOMAL members were extorted or paid under duress.
The institute’s response follows reports, including a front-page account in The Matrix newspaper, which characterised the judgment as ending NIHOTOUR’s alleged harassment of hotel owners.
NIHOTOUR said it rejected that interpretation and wanted the circumstances surrounding the dispute to be understood within the context of the legal proceedings.
NIHOTOUR maintained that its collection of fees from hospitality operators was carried out under the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act, 2022.
According to the institute, the legislation provides the basis for its responsibilities relating to the registration and certification of hospitality and tourism professionals, as well as the establishment of standards for the industry’s workforce nationwide.
The institute argued that these responsibilities are intended to promote professionalism and improve standards across Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector.
It also stressed that its regulatory activities are designed to benefit hotel owners, employees and guests by supporting the development of a skilled and certified workforce.
NIHOTOUR stated that it did not accept the description of the fees as extortion, arguing that the collections were made in the exercise of its statutory responsibilities.
However, the dispute over the extent of its regulatory authority within Lagos State remains a legal matter. The precise implications of the court’s decision will depend on the judgment itself and the outcome of any subsequent appeal or challenge.
The institute confirmed that it was obtaining a certified copy of the Federal High Court judgment and would proceed to challenge the ruling based on legal advice.
It said the matter remained active and cautioned against presenting the judgment as final or settled while further legal steps were being considered.
The planned challenge means the disagreement between NIHOTOUR and the hotel owners’ association may continue through the judicial process.
A certified copy of the judgment will be important in determining the court’s specific findings, the legal reasoning behind its decision and the issues that may be raised in any challenge.
Until those details are available and the next legal steps are clarified, the parties’ differing interpretations should be distinguished from the court’s actual findings.
NIHOTOUR said it would provide further updates as the process progresses.
The disagreement highlights the importance of clarity over regulatory responsibilities in Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector.
Hotel operators must comply with applicable laws and standards, while regulatory institutions are expected to exercise their powers within the limits of their legal authority.
Where disputes arise over registration, certification, fees or jurisdiction, the outcome can have implications for businesses, workers and the wider tourism industry.
For hotel owners, clarity on applicable requirements is important for planning operating costs and meeting regulatory obligations. For industry regulators, a clear legal framework helps support consistent enforcement and professional standards.
NIHOTOUR argued that the purpose of its mandate is to protect workers and guests while supporting businesses through a better-trained hospitality workforce.
The institute said a skilled and certified workforce benefits hotel operators as well as the wider industry.
Its position reflects the argument that professional standards and workforce development are important to the quality of hospitality services in Nigeria.
However, the legal question at the centre of the dispute concerns the scope of regulatory jurisdiction and the authority under which the disputed fees were collected.
Institute Says It Will Focus on Legal Process
NIHOTOUR said it would avoid engaging in a public dispute over the descriptions used to characterise the judgment, preferring to focus on the legal process and the professional standards it believes the sector requires.
The statement did not present the dispute as resolved. Instead, it confirmed that the institute intended to pursue further legal action after obtaining the certified judgment and receiving legal advice.
The outcome of the planned challenge could help clarify the legal issues affecting NIHOTOUR’s regulatory activities in Lagos State.
For now, the institute maintains that the fees collected from HOMAL members were imposed under its statutory mandate, while rejecting the claim that the collections amounted to extortion.
The court’s judgment and any subsequent proceedings will be central to determining the legal position.
NIHOTOUR has rejected HOMAL-related harassment claims following the Federal High Court judgment, defended the disputed fees as part of its statutory responsibilities and confirmed plans to challenge the ruling. The institute says the matter remains active and has pledged to provide further updates as the legal process continues.
