Truth must always be told, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. I have never shied away from taking a firm stance on sectoral issues, especially when the tourism industry is at a critical crossroads. Today is no different.
I woke up on the right side of my bed, fully conscious of the weight of my words, and I stood by them. So, let me ask bluntly: Should Abisoye Fagade, the DG of NIHOTOUR, be stoned for the institute’s change in role?
Since the announcement that the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) will now function as a regulatory body rather than a training institution, the tourism sector has erupted in chaos. The backlash has been swift and fierce, with many industry practitioners directing their anger at Fagade, accusing him of orchestrating this dramatic shift.
But let’s be clear: Fagade is not the architect of this change.
The transformation of NIHOTOUR’s role did not originate with Fagade. It is the direct result of a law passed in 2023, long before he assumed office. The journey of this legislation dates back to 2016 when Mrs. Chika Balogun was the DG of NIHOTOUR. The bill faced resistance at the time, with notable industry figures—including the current President of FTAN, Mr. Nkereuwem Onung, and Frank Meke—opposing it.
I, Wale Ojo-Lanre, supported the bill and even defended it during the Senate’s public hearing on the two bills.
I was the only journalist who defended the NIHONIHOT and NTDA bills.
Despite initial setbacks, the bill resurfaced and was eventually signed into law by the former president in 2023. By the time Fagade arrived at NIHOTOUR, the law was already in place. His role? To implement what had been enacted.
So, if anyone deserves to be held accountable, it should be Fagade or those who allowed the bill to pass without formidable, unified opposition.
This situation exposes a fundamental flaw within the tourism industry: practitioners are often reactive rather than proactive. Many only engage with policy matters when the effects hit them directly rather than shaping the conversation from the outset.
Even worse, some tourism stakeholders prioritize personal alliances over national interests. They hero-worship DGs and political appointees when it serves their agenda, only to turn against them when policies no longer align with their expectations.
If the industry had spoken with one voice and taken a principled stand before this law was passed, would we have this conversation today?
For those who disagree with NIHOTOUR’s new role, the solution is not to crucify Fagade. Instead, there are only two logical courses of action:
Seek Legal Redress – If stakeholders believe this law is detrimental to the sector, they should challenge it in court.
Legislative Advocacy – A return to the National Assembly for a review or amendment of the law is possible, though it requires unity and strategic lobbying.
So, should Fagade be stoned? The answer is no—unless we are willing to stone every practitioner who failed to act when it mattered most.
The industry must learn from this episode rather than waste energy on misplaced outrage. Tourism practitioners must engage early, act strategically, and prioritize the future over temporary alliances. That is the only way to prevent similar shocks in the future.
The law has been passed. The blame game will not change it. Only intelligent action will.
Good point made by Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre. Mr. Fagade is truly trying to implement the act he met on the ground, and he is not the architect; very true.
Good as this is, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre did not get the point that there was no room to either support or reject this bill, except he was the only one invited for the hearing, as others never knew. This bill was bribed into the National Assembly, hushed through a letter sent to the President to sign along with last-minute bills, so the opportunity for public presentation never existed for the practitioners to either support or defend their position.
One can thank the ambassador for suggesting the way out, which is a well-known option for the professional associations whose civility is now being called stupidity. All along there have been engagements probably unknown to the ambassador. Fagade is only being advised on his I’ll advised advertisement that Professionals should be registering with NIHOTOURS for the purposes of regulation or whatever that they and he has no capacity nor authority to so do.
In any case, the next stakeholders meeting will dictate the next lone of action. Thanks anyway to the Ambassador but he needs to understand that the Professionals were never sleeping but thinking NIHOTOURS and her DG will be learned enough to know their capability and what is right and can return the bill to the National Assembly for a review.