Yesterday, Wednesday 19th of May 2021, the Vice president of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in a speech delivered at the opening ceremony of Marriot's new 250 rooms state-of-the-art hotel in Ikeja Lagos reaffirmed the role of NIHOTOUR in contributing to the development of the Hospitality and Tourism Sectors in Nigeria. The new Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja is a magnificent edifice with luxurious settings, owned by Dr Taiwo Afolabi’s SIFAX Group.
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has directed the immediate closure of Bagauda zonal campus in Kano over “possible attacks by insurgents”. Nura Kangiwa, director-general of NIHOTOUR, gave the directive on Wednesday, in a statement by Ahmed Sule, the institute’s spokesperson. In recent times, Nigeria has witnessed a spate of killings, kidnappings, and arson perpetrated by insurgents, bandits, and gunmen.
According to the statement, the directive became imperative in the wake of the closure of Government Technical College by the Kano state government, on Tuesday.
The NIHOTOUR boss noted that students and members of staff are expected to stay off the Bagauda campus, while those at the mini campus located around the civic centre road in Kano metropolis can continue with their academic activities.
Kangiwa said although it is the responsibility of the institute to protect the lives of its staff and students, the closure is necessary in view of the current security challenges.
“Following the directive of the Kano State Government to close Government Technical College, Bagauda, a close proximity to the NIHOTOUR zonal campus, on security ground, the closure of the campus becomes imperative,” the statement reads.
“This is in view of security reports that put the Bagauda axis on security danger list of possible attack by insurgents.
“However, the mini campus of the institute located at the Civic Centre Road in the Kano metropolis, where the IATA course programmes are offered, will remain operational.
“Therefore, staff and students of the mini campus are to go on with their normal academic activities unhindered.”
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has sympatised with the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) in his condolence message to the acting president, Mr. Nkeurewm Onung on the death of the association president, Alhaji Saleh Rabo.
The Minister expressed sadness over the shocking news of the untimely death of Alhaji Saleh Rabo, in a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Ifeoma Adora Anyanwutaku.
The declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic in January led to international travel restrictions, national travel bans and sub-national lockdowns, leading to massive cancellations of tourism and hospitality services, in destinations all over the world.
Consequently, the travel tourism and hospitality sectors in Nigeria have unimaginably, taken a direct hit with attendant tales of woes including corporate bankruptcies and large-scale job losses.
Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), said the International travel restrictions imposed by most countries in the wake of the first, and now second wave of COVID-19 has literally crippled the global tourism industry.
(The newly appointed Director General of NIHOTOUR, Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa, recently granted an exclusive interview to Justina Uzu of ThisDay Newspapers. In this no-holds-barred interview, the quintessential Director General revealed his plans to jump-start Nigeria tourism development following his appointment as the helmsman of the premier Hospitality and Tourism training Institute in Nigeria and West Africa.)
Question: Recently, we saw your efforts at sports-tourism segment of the Tourism industry especially during Argungu International Fishing Festival. Tell us about the 2020 edition (Argungu International Fishing Festival).
Answer: The 2020 Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival was epochal for many reasons, including the infusion of Polo tournament, which is sports tourism. Recall that prior to 2020, the fishing festival hadn't been held for 10 years. So, it was a Herculean task breaking the jinx to host the fishing festival and to include other tourism features. We were also able to make the fishing festival truly international by ensuring the cultural participation of five neighboring West African countries.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other unions in the tourism and hotel industry have rejected the plan by some notable hotels in the country to owe workers’ salaries under the pretext of COVID-19 pandemic. The unions said they are already engaging the managements of the hotels from their deliberate attempt to owe workers, March and April salaries.
President of the Hotel and Personal Service Senior Staff Association (HAPSSSA), Adegbe Iyeh, said some employers in the industry are taking some actions contrary to industrial relations rules, which may jeopardize industrial peace in the sector.
