NIHOTOUR Launches Disciplinary Tribunal to Sanction Offenders in Tourism Sector
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has inaugurated a disciplinary tribunal to enforce ethical standards and licensing compliance across Nigeria’s hospitality, travel, and tourism industries.
The newly formed Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (HTTPDT) will be chaired by Justice Ishaq Bello, former Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory.
Other members of the tribunal were sworn in by NIHOTOUR Director-General, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, at the institute’s headquarters in Abuja.
The tribunal is empowered to:
Investigate professional misconduct
Address licensing violations
Promote professionalism and accountability in the sector
Speaking at the inauguration, Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, represented by Ayodele Adebanjo, described the move as a “bold and necessary step” to clean up the industry.
Dr. Fagade emphasized that the tribunal marks NIHOTOUR’s transition from a training center to a regulatory authority, stressing that the industry must uphold competence, ethics, and standards.
Justice Bello is expected to bring legal and administrative expertise to the tribunal’s operation, while Rep. Muktar Mohammed, Chair of the House Committee on Tourism, praised the initiative as a turning point for ensuring global best practices and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s tourism economy.
