Implementation and Disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund

NIHOTOUR, NBS sign MOU to strengthen data-driven growth in Nigeria’s hospitality industry.

Gloria Odion

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to build a globally competitive and data-driven hospitality, travel, and tourism industry.

This partnership represents a bold step toward transforming Nigeria’s tourism landscape by deepening research, strengthening sector intelligence, and enabling more informed policy decisions.

With improved access to credible data, government agencies, investors, personnel, practitioners, and industry stakeholders will now be better equipped to identify opportunities, monitor growth, and strategically expand the value of tourism in national development.

A New Era for Evidence-Based Tourism Development.

The hospitality, travel, and tourism sector continues to gain prominence as one of Ni popgeria’s most dynamic channels for job creation, enterprise development, and cultural promotion.

However, the absence of unified, reliable data has long limited the country’s ability to harness its potential fully.

Through this MOU, NIHOTOUR and NBS commit to:Strengthened data collection and analysis across accommodation, transportation, events, recreation, culinary tourism, destination activities, and workforce trends.

Joint research outputs that will serve as the official reference point for policymakers, investors, and development partners.

Capacity building initiatives that improve national understanding of industry standards, measurement frameworks, and global best practices.

A shared tourism intelligence system that enhances planning, forecasting, and regulatory improvements.

“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.”

Positioning Nigeria for the Festive Season Upsurge.

The festive season remains the busiest period for Nigeria’s tourism ecosystem, energising hotels, short-lets, airlines, road transport, restaurants, fashion, nightlife, cultural festivals, entertainment events, and local SMEs.

With this new partnership, NIHOTOUR and NBS will track trends, visitor flows, spending patterns, and workforce movement during the season to better understand and maximise its economic benefits.

This will help operators, destination managers, and state governments improve planning, pricing, crowd management, and service delivery during high-traffic periods.

A Foundation for the Renewed Vision

The MOU aligns with national efforts to reposition tourism as a major non-oil revenue source, strengthen professional training, and improve Nigeria’s global brand appeal. It also complements the ongoing drive to support personnel and practitioners across the hospitality, travel, and tourism value chain.

By harmonising expertise, NIHOTOUR’s leadership in capacity development and NBS’s technical strength in statistical systems, Nigeria is laying a strong foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth in the sector.

Headlines

Oyebamiji eyes Osun state governorship seat as he resigns as NIWA MD

Funso OLOJO

As the race for the 2026 governorship election in Osun State hots up, Bola Oyebamiji, one of the frontline contenders for the plum office, has resigned his appointment as the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

Oyebamiji, who was appointed to head the government agency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in October 2023, parted ways with NIWA in order to face his political ambition squarely.

Oyebamiji ,who has confirmed his resignation and political ambition, said he stepped down in compliance with the electoral law to enable him to contest the 2026 Osun State governorship election.

“Yes, I have resigned in accordance with the electoral law to pursue my Osun 2026 governorship ambition.”, he told newsmen.

Before his resignation, Oyebamiji has kept his political ambition close to his chest while he was still active as NIWA MD.

Political commentators claimed that he was anointed to contest for the highest seat in Osun State by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who was also the former Governor of the state.

It was reliably gathered that Oyetola, who lost his bid for the second term in office in the Osun State governorship election of 2023, wanted to contest in the 2026 election but was advised to shelve the idea due to his old age.

This, the sources claimed, made him to concede the slot to his political son, Oyebamiji.

Before the appointment of Oyebamiji as NIWA MD in 2023, he served as Osun State Commissioner for Finance for two terms and later as Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

He is a successful banker, economist and public administrator.

Headlines

Documents show Regina Daniels’ abuse of hard drugs

Adebayo Obajemu

Documents exclusively obtained by this reporter indicate that Regina Daniels, the estranged wife of billionaire lawmaker, Senator Ned Nwoko, is excessively abusing drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and alcohol,

According to a laboratory test conducted by an expert and report made available to newsmen, the toxicology test on Regina showed positive to marijuana, cocaine, morphine, ipiates and alcohol at health- toxic levels.

According to Nwoko, ‘Regina needs help and must go back to the Rehab centre which she started two months ago for medical attention’.

Recall that the lawmaker had opened up on the dispute between his wife, Regina, attributing their marital crisis to her battle with drug and alcohol addiction.

Regina had earlier accused Nwoko of assault and domestic abuse. She alleged that the violence in her husband’s home had become unbearable, saying Nwoko sent thugs to attack her.

“Ned sent thugs to attack me, I’m nothing in Ned’s house, but in my house, I’m a queen. I can’t stand the violence anymore; it’s too much,” the mother of two was heard saying in a viral video on Saturday, October 18, 2025.

Reacting via a statement shared on his Facebook page on Sunday, Nwoko denied allegations of domestic violence preferred against him by Regina, insisting that he had never been abusive to any of his wives.

The lawmaker, who also shared a video showing his properties allegedly destroyed by Regina, stated that despite having other wives, none had ever accused him of violence.

He wrote: “Regina was not always like this. Her current battle with drugs and alcohol abuse is the root of our problem. She must continue her rehabilitation program, or I fear for her life and safety.

“Now she has moved to a place where she will have unrestricted access to drugs. I have other wives, and none will ever accuse me of violence.

“Regina is the violent one here, slapping and hitting three staff in the past 48 hours and destroying property, including cars and windows, for no just cause.”

Nwoko explained that he had set a clear condition for Regina to undergo rehabilitation, either at a facility in Asokoro, Abuja, or abroad, to help her overcome addiction.

Nwoko added: “The truth is, I have set a clear condition for her to accept rehab in Asokoro or outside Nigeria especially Jordan where she will not have access to drugs.

“A clear headed Regina would have taken moon to the hospital but instead she even threatened to kill our resident nurse (for exposing her drugs abuse).

“While I took Moon to the hospital, a scene of chaos unfolded at home, orchestrated by Sammy, Regina’s main drug supplier. Another known supplier of drugs to Regina is the tiny evil devil called Ann.”

Nwoko in a WhatsApp chat with Regina said ‘I won’t accept your friends coming here at odd hours again. First it was glam on Sunday night.

“I spoke with two of you to go to sleep at 1 am or she should leave. She didn’t do either. It was an all night of noise and music and all that goes with it.

“By 3 am another two friends joined you. They left the following afternoon. Again today, I asked you to go to.bed at 3am. You refused. It was was the noise of doors downstairs that woke me up. Lo and behold, you and Sonia were heading to your room at exactly 3.30am.

“You have shown so much disrespect in the past few days. I don’t know who is giving you drugs amongst them and this lifestyle is totally unacceptable and we can’t continue like this.

“It is either you continue with your therapy or you check into the rehab in Asokoro. My health is deteriorating because of your situation. I am worried about your life and what will happen with the kids. More importantly, I won’t fund your lifestyle again until you are fully rehabilitated’

Nwoko added all his efforts to ensure he rehabilitated Regina were rebuffed by his wife and family members.

Recall that Regina Daniels had days back admitted to using hard drugs via her Instagram page stating other reasons for her addiction.