The Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA) has threatened to shut down unregistered hotels across the country, citing their use in criminal activities that harm national security and the industry's reputation. NHA President Eze Patrick Anyanwu made the statement during a meeting of the association's national executives and state chairmen in Owerri on Thursday. He accused unregistered hotels of contributing to insecurity, warning that operators who refuse to affiliate with the NHA risk legal action and closure. Anyanwu described the hospitality sector as a key driver of economic growth and called for government support through grants or bailout funds. He commended both the Federal Government and Imo State Government for promoting tourism but criticised the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) for enforcing the NIHOTOUR Act 2022, which he claims contradicts the Nigerian Constitution and the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda. He argued that tourism services fall under the residual list, meaning states should have control, and pledged resistance against any agency harassing hotel operators.
Eze Patrick Anyanwu is drawing a line at unregistered hotels, framing them as hubs for crime and threats to national stability. His warning of shutdowns targets lawless operators but also exposes the fragile regulatory space hoteliers navigate. With NIHOTOUR's enforcement under fire, hotel owners may face conflicting directives from federal and industry bodies. For ordinary Nigerians, this signals more scrutiny on where they stay — and who gets to decide what compliance means.
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