The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has called for stronger legal and institutional regulation of Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry, stressing that the sector must be properly guided by law to achieve its full economic potential.
Osigwe made the call when the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Dr. Abisoye Fagade, paid him a courtesy visit at the NBA House in Abuja.
The NBA President commended the ongoing reforms and professionalization efforts being led by NIHOTOUR under Dr. Fagade, describing them as timely and essential for repositioning the sector for growth.
According to him, the hospitality and tourism industry remains one of the most promising drivers of national development if properly regulated and supported by a robust legal framework.
“Our hospitality and tourism industry must be regulated to yield maximum benefits for Nigeria. Proper standards, accountability, and consumer protection are key. The NBA is ready to collaborate with NIHOTOUR in providing the necessary legal backbone to achieve this,” Osigwe stated.
Responding, Dr. Abisoye Fagade expressed appreciation for the NBA’s willingness to partner with NIHOTOUR, noting that legal collaboration is critical to strengthening institutional governance and ensuring sustainable growth within the sector.
“Regulation backed by strong legal principles is vital to ensuring our sector’s growth is both sustainable and globally credible. NIHOTOUR is committed to driving this transformation in line with national tourism policy,” Fagade said.
The visit marks the beginning of a new partnership between NIHOTOUR and the NBA aimed at promoting legal collaboration, policy alignment, and professional training on tourism law and ethics.
The partnership, according to NIHOTOUR, aligns with the Institute’s broader mission of building a competent, compliant, and competitive tourism workforce capable of meeting global standards.
Reporting by Chioma Ezike