The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has announced the formal inauguration of the Hospitality, Tourism & Travel Tribunal (HTTT), in line with Section 40 (1) and (2) of the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act.
 
According to the institute, the tribunal has been constituted as a regulatory and adjudicatory body for resolving disputes, enforcing professional standards, and ensuring compliance across Nigeria’s hospitality, tourism, and travel sectors.
 
Section 40 of the NIHOTOUR Act provides that there be a body to be known as the Hospitality, Tourism and Travel Tribunal (in this Act referred to as “the Tribunal”), which shall be charged with the responsibility of adjudicating on matters relating to the regulation, practice, licencing, discipline, and standards within the hospitality, tourism and travel industry.
 
The Act also provides that the tribunal shall consist of a Chairman, who shall be a retired Judge of a superior court of record in Nigeria and four other members drawn from relevant professional bodies in the industry.
 
In accordance with this provision, NIHOTOUR noted that Justice Ishaq Usman Bello, a retired Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and a jurist of repute, has been appointed as Chairman of the tribunal.

It stated that with his impeccable record in judicial service and legal reform, Justice Bello will bring deep integrity and authority to this pivotal role.
 
Other distinguished members appointed to serve on the tribunal include
a former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos State — a renowned journalist, cultural advocate, and tourism policy expert, Steve Ayorinde; the President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies and Tourism Practitioners (NANTOP), a frontline industry voice with decades of professional advocacy, Alhaja Bolaji Mustapha; a representative of the Chartered Institute of Hospitality, Tourism and Management of America, Abuja (CIHTMA), who is a strategic thinker and promoter of professional excellence in hospitality training and accreditation, Mr John Daniel Enemona.
 
The HTTT is mandated to serve as an independent forum for fair hearing, adjudication, and redress, dealing with professional misconduct, institutional grievances, licensing violations, and consumer complaints, thereby raising the bar of professionalism and accountability in the industry.
 
Speaking on this development, the Director General of NIHOTOUR, Aare (Dr) Abisoye Fagade, noted: “This marks a new chapter for the tourism industry in Nigeria. With the establishment of the tribunal, we are institutionalising a culture of due process and accountability. Justice Bello and the other members of the HTTT represent the very best of legal and industry professionalism.”