The Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA) has called on the Federal Government to extend financial grants to support the hospitality industry, which it says is grappling with the strain of multiple taxes, especially at the state level.
Speaking during a press conference on Thursday in Bauchi, the National President of the NHA, Dr. Patrick Anyanwu, decried the growing financial pressure on hoteliers due to excessive levies imposed by various government agencies.
He described the hotel business as a key driver of economic development, job creation, and tourism in Nigeria, and urged both state and federal authorities to adopt a more business-friendly approach toward the sector.
“Hotels across the country are overburdened. The taxes are too many, and they come from all directions—local governments, states, and federal agencies,” Anyanwu said. “This is not sustainable. If we want the hospitality industry to thrive and continue contributing to the economy, there must be intervention, including grants and more reasonable tax regimes.”
The NHA president said his appeal was one of the key resolutions reached at the association’s general meeting held earlier this month in Lagos. According to him, the sector needs urgent government support if it is to recover and grow amid rising operational costs and economic headwinds.
He also called for greater engagement between hotel operators and state governments to harmonize tax policies, eliminate duplications, and strengthen long-term sustainability in the industry.
“Hotels play a huge role in job creation, service delivery, and tourism. What we need is dialogue, not punishment. Our doors are open, and we hope the government will listen,” he added.
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