*He provoked officer during Compliance Exercise

All may not have been heard on the current National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) registration compliance exercise in Lagos, and how a staff of the Federal Palace Hotel (FPH) was injured.

NIHOTOUR has released a statement explaining what led to the incidence through its Public Relations Officer, Dr. Ajiboye Longe. The statement said: “On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, during a scheduled compliance and standardization exercise by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, a moment of tension arose between a hotel staff member and a law enforcement officer attached to the NIHOTOUR delegation who was striped off his uniform by the hotel staff.

“The misunderstanding—which does not reflect the tone of the broader engagement—escalated when a hotel staff physically confronted the officer, resulting in damage and striping of his official police uniform. The officer, caught off guard and naked with only his pants trousers got visibly provoked, responded with a slap, which made direct contact with the staff member’s face.

“While the incident is regretable and avoidable, it serves as a sober reminder of the importance of composure, clarity, and professionalism during such exercises. The Institute reiterates that its mandate is anchored on collaboration, capacity enhancement, and stakeholder engagement—not hostility or confrontation.

“Commenting on the situation, NIHOTOUR’s Director of Inspection and Enforcement, Barrister Chike Ukuekwe, urged practitioners and operators in the industry to shun aggressive and combative engagement when officers of the law arrive at their premises for compliance exercise. He further emphasized the need for mutual understanding and a professional approach to enforcement efforts:

“Our collective mission is the upliftment of Nigeria’s hospitality, tourism, and travel sectors through standardization and compliance. These exercises are not meant to antagonize operators but to align practices with national expectations and global standards,” he said.
“We commend establishments like Eko Hotel, Marriot, Radisson Blu, Fourpoints By Sheraton and other Hotels that open their doors to these engagements, and we urge all stakeholders to embrace dialogue, not disruption. It would interest you to know that most of the hotels visited, the compliance issues were resolved within their premises, and our team left peacefully after assurances were made by most management of those hotels to comply within 7 days’ time.”

“As Nigeria’s lead institution for the standardization of the hospitality, tourism, and travel industry practice, NIHOTOUR remains committed to ensuring a professional and safe operational environment. Initiatives such as the ongoing national compliance drive are designed to reinforce quality, ethics, and service excellence across the board.

“Moving forward, NIHOTOUR is taking deliberate steps to enhance communication protocols and on-site preparedness during field exercises, ensuring clarity of purpose and mutual respect among all parties involved.”