The NIHOTOUR Tribunal: A Rubbish And Useless Panel Foisted On The Tourism Sector? Think Again!

By Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, Esq.
Director General, Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development

Honestly, walai talahi, this time around, we must summon the courage to tell the truth without minding whose ox is gored. It is better to speak plainly than to hide under a bushel. That is why I am compelled to respond bluntly and sincerely to those who have branded NIHOTOUR’s newly inaugurated tribunal as “rubbish” and “useless.”

Yes—you heard right. Some have called it rubbish. Others, in the comfort of their armchairs, dismissed it as useless. But I ask: how can anyone with even a speck of foresight and national interest use such toxic language to describe what is, in fact, a potent legal instrument—one capable of reengineering and revitalizing Nigeria’s tourism sector?

Nooo, my brother, stop this! Why throw crude stones at a structure built to sanitize and uplift? Must every innovation be greeted with cynicism?

Let’s face it: our tourism sector has for too long been a playground of impunity—rife with malpractice, unchecked substandard practices, and a glaring lack of regulatory enforcement. Individuals with no understanding of ethics or quality assurance have operated freely, sometimes even shielded by the very associations meant to ensure professionalism. I recall once having to take legal action against one such association that decided to operate outside the law as if tourism in Nigeria were the Wild West.

But now, with the backing of Section 44 of the NIHOTOUR Act (2022) and the 2025 Regulations, the tribunal is a welcomed intervention—finally bringing structure, accountability, and professional discipline to an industry that has cried out for reform.

The tribunal is not some haphazard creation. It is composed of:

• Hon. Dr. Justice Ishaq U. Bello, retired Chief Judge of the FCT High Court – Chairman
• Mr. Daniel Enemoma John, Registrar General, Certified Institute of Hospitality, Tourism and Travel (CIHTT)
• Mr. Ayorinde Oluseyi Steve, former Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism
• Alhaja Bolaji Mustapha, President, National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP)
• Aare (Dr.) Abisoye Fagade, FIMC, Director General of NIHOTOUR

This isn’t a political panel stuffed with cronies—it’s a team of tested legal minds and industry veterans committed to fairness and progress.

Across the globe, regulatory tribunals are the norm, not the exception. In the United Kingdom, the Travel Industry Tribunal operates under the Civil Aviation Authority and ABTA, successfully enforcing compliance, restoring public trust, and punishing violations in a sector worth billions.

In the United States, particularly in states like Florida and California, tribunal-like boards ensure hotels and travel agencies adhere to safety and consumer protection laws—cementing America’s global tourism dominance.

South Africa’s Tourism Grading Council, Singapore’s STB disciplinary system, and Australia’s Administrative Appeals Tribunal all show the same pattern: regulatory bodies that raise standards, ensure accountability, and attract investment.

So when Nigeria inaugurates its own Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Tribunal (HTTT), is that “rubbish”? Or is it simply that some fear the end of the free-for-all era?

Let us not mistake discipline for oppression. With a retired Chief Judge at the helm and mechanisms for appeal in superior courts, this tribunal is not a witch-hunt squad—it is an enforcer of professionalism, fairness, and due process.

The tribunal offers:

• A credible forum for handling grievances and malpractice
• Enforcement of licensing standards
• A deterrent against fraud, recklessness, and quackery
• A signal to international investors that Nigeria means business
• A platform to restore public trust and global credibility

If this is what some people call “useless,” then perhaps we need more “uselessness” in other sectors.

This is a new dawn for Nigeria’s tourism industry. The tribunal is not an enemy—it is the long-awaited referee in a game that has, for too long, lacked rules. Kudos to the Federal Government and NIHOTOUR for this bold and necessary move. I am especially proud of Aare (Dr.) Abisoye Fagade, whose foresight and courage made this possible.

God bless our tourism sector.
God bless Nigeria.
God bless President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.