Former Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Ishaq Bello, has been named chairman of the newly constituted Hospitality, Travel, and Tourism Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.
He was inaugurated alongside other members by the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Dr. Abisoye Fagade, in Abuja.
The tribunal is mandated to uphold ethical standards, enforce licensing regulations, and foster professionalism within the hospitality, travel, and tourism industries.
Justice Bello is expected to leverage his vast experience in legal reform and judicial administration to support NIHOTOUR’s renewed regulatory efforts.
Speaking during the inauguration, Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, represented by Mr Ayodele Adebanjo, described the tribunal as a “bold and necessary move to clean up and elevate the tourism space.”
Fagade, in his remarks, said the establishment of the tribunal was in line with NIHOTOUR’s broader transformation agenda from a training centre into a full regulatory authority for the industry.
“Our industry must operate on the foundation of competence, ethics, and standards. The tribunal gives us the authority to enforce discipline and safeguard the reputation of practitioners, as well as the trust of the public,” he said.
“It is designed to collaborate with stakeholders across both public and private sectors to raise the bar of service delivery and uphold the integrity of the industry.
“With this inauguration, Nigeria takes a significant step toward institutionalising accountability and professionalism, positioning the country to meet global expectations,” Fagade stated.
In his address, Chairman of the House Committee on Tourism, Muktar Mohammed, described the new tribunal as a key step toward improving quality, safety, and global standards in Nigeria’s hospitality sector.
He emphasized that while the tribunal will enforce compliance, its focus is also on reform, transparency, and protecting the industry’s integrity.
