The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to strengthen data gathering and research in Nigeria’s hospitality, travel and tourism sector.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to both agencies, the move marks a significant step in Nigeria’s push to build a globally competitive and evidence-based tourism economy.
In a statement announcing the development, NIHOTOUR said the partnership would deepen research, improve sector intelligence and guide more informed policy decisions. With access to reliable data, government agencies, investors and stakeholders will be better positioned to identify opportunities, track growth and expand the sector’s contribution to national development.
The institute described the sector as one of Nigeria’s most vibrant platforms for job creation, enterprise expansion and cultural promotion, although hampered for years by the absence of unified and credible data.
NIHOTOUR and NBS will collaborate on strengthened data collection across accommodation, transportation, events, recreation, culinary tourism, destination activities and workforce patterns. They will also produce joint research materials that will serve as official reference points for policymakers and investors, undertake capacity-building programmes on industry standards and develop a shared tourism intelligence system to support planning and forecasting.
“This partnership marks a turning point for the sector,” said Aare Fagade, DG/CEO, NIHOTOUR. “Reliable data is the backbone of meaningful progress. With this MOU, we are paving the way for smarter investments, better training, and a more globally competitive tourism industry.”
“NBS is committed to supporting sectors that hold great promise for Nigeria’s economic future,” said Prince Adeyemi, SG/CEO, NBS. “This collaboration ensures that the hospitality, travel, and tourism sector will now benefit from the same level of statistical rigour applied to other critical industries.”
The agencies noted that the festive season remains the busiest period for tourism, boosting hotels, transport, restaurants, nightlife, cultural festivals and SMEs. They plan to track visitor flows, spending patterns and workforce movements to help operators and state governments improve planning, pricing, and service delivery during high-traffic periods.
NIHOTOUR added that the MOU aligns with national efforts to reposition tourism as a major non-oil revenue source and to strengthen professional training in the sector. It said the partnership combines NIHOTOUR’s capacity development mandate with NBS’s technical expertise to build a stronger foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth.
