The Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Aare Abisoye Fagade, has met with the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, CG Kemi Nana Nandap, to seek a strategic collaboration aimed at enforcing industry standards within the tourism, hospitality, and travel sectors, especially as it relates to Expatriate Working Permit.
This partnership is crucial in addressing the unchecked influx of expatriates into Nigeria’s hospitality industry and ensuring fair labour practices for Nigerian professionals.
According to a statement by NIHOTOUR, the move aims to enforce industry standards, protect local professionals, and address wage disparities between expatriates and Nigerians in the industry.
Speaking after a meeting with the Comptroller General of the NIS, NIHOTOUR’s Director General emphasised the need for stricter regulations to ensure fair labor practices.
“It is unacceptable that many expatriates occupy key positions in Nigeria’s hospitality sector while our own professionals, who are equally or even more qualified, receive significantly lower salaries,” Fagade said. “We need to ensure that those coming into our industry meet the same standards required of our people.”
Fagade noted that currently, expatriates obtain work visas through the NIS under the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card system.
The NIHOTOUR DG advocated a policy shift that would require expatriates working in the hospitality and tourism sectors to obtain NIHOTOUR certification, ensuring they meet the country’s professional standards.
“We are calling for NIHOTOUR certification to be a mandatory requirement for hospitality, travel, and tourism businesses when applying for expatriate work permits,” Fagade explained. “This will help maintain quality in the industry and prevent foreign professionals from bypassing necessary competency checks.”
As part of the collaboration, NIHOTOUR is also proposing a joint committee with the NIS to review all CERPAC permits issued to expatriates working in the hospitality and tourism sector.
According to Fagade, the committee will help ensure that all foreign professionals operating in Nigeria possess both NIHOTOUR certification and the appropriate immigration documents.
“We need to take a closer look at the work permits that have already been issued to expatriates in our industry,” he said. “A thorough review will help us identify gaps and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.”
Beyond work permits, NIHOTOUR is also pushing for better training of immigration officers stationed at airports.
“The goal is to improve professionalism, eliminate allegations of extortion, and create a more welcoming environment for travelers. Our immigration officers are the first point of contact for visitors entering Nigeria,” Fagade noted. “Proper training will enhance their efficiency and contribute to a positive travel experience. It is also an opportunity for NIHOTOUR and the NIS to generate additional revenue through structured training programs.”
NIHOTOUR reaffirmed its commitment to elevating Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry to international standards and pledged to continue working with key stakeholders to implement these reforms.
“This collaboration is about more than just policy—it’s about protecting Nigerian professionals and ensuring that our industry operates with fairness and excellence,” Fagade stated.
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