Tourism Minister lauds ntdc on development •As corporation partners FTAN to fight fraudsters

Written by Duncan Wednesday, 26 May 2010

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, has commended the efforts of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), in repositioning the tourism industry in Nigeria.

The minister disclosed this recently during a familiarization visit to the apex tourism regulatory body in Nigeria at Tourism Village, Abuja. The minister, who described NTDC staff as “amiable,” said “I have seen more than I have heard.”

He explained that the NTDC was both a regulator and a promoter in terms of functions and mandate in his words, “the NTDC has lived up to expectations.” He added that the corporation had captured the real concepts of tourism in Nigeria.

The minister stressed that “NTDC is wearing its own identity and the various projects initiated by the NTDC are commendable.”

Alhaji Mohammed further explained that tourism was a very important sector of the economy because of its potentials for sustainable development and considering its multiplier effects on the people and the economy.

He affirmed that the NTDC had braced up to the challenges in the industry and urged it not to rest on its oars.

He solicited the support and cooperation of stakeholders and policy makers to move the industry forward. He stated that such support would help the NTDC to promote tourism both “internally and externally”

Alhaji Sadiq Mohammed further stated that the efforts being made by the NTDC were also being complemented by the Ministry Of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation. He explained that the ministry was also fashioning out policies that would enhance the operations of the NTDC.

According to him “we will continue to co-operate, support staff and management in realising that we have one common goal.” He added that the efforts of NTDC in promoting tourism were yielding results because of the credible leadership offered by its present management.

In his assessment of NTDC, the Hon. Minister affirmed: “This is a corporation that has tried to live up to its responsibilities by trying to achieve its mandate. The efforts being made are yielding results and it is quite commendable.”

He further commended the cordial relationship existing between NTDC management and staff which he said should be sustained

The Hon. Minister earlier on arrival at Tourism Village inspected facilities at the tourism village. He was quite impressed about the progress of the Chief Olusegun Runsewe leadership, especially the NTDC exhibition Leisure Hall; ultra modern library, multimedia TV studio and the community radio “voice of tourism” the first ever in this part of the world.

The minister, as part of the visit later commissioned the NTDC’s nine restaurants named after him.

In his remarks, the Director-General of the NTDC, Chief Olusegun Runsewe thanked the minister for finding time to visit the NTDC when he had hardly settled down in office. According to him,this was proof that he was determined to contribute meaningfully to the development and growth of the sector

Runsewe further informed the minister that “the happiest people in the history of Africa reside in the NTDC adding that it was the only secret remaining for Africa.

In another development, the Director-General, NTDC, Chief Runsewe, has charged the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigerian (FTAN) to join forces with the NTDC to put an end to the menace of fraudulent practices in the industry by its members.

The NTDC boss, who stated this recently in Abuja during a meeting with the leadership of FTAN, stressed that the NTDC was set up by law to develop and promote tourism for the country, while FTAN is an association and not an individual thing. Therefore he said “posterity will not forgive us all if we allow some people to destroy our efforts. It is either we get it right now, or not”

He said his life was in danger because he was being perceived as preventing the fraudsters in the industry from having their way.

Runsewe commended the new leadership of FTAN for appreciating the role NTDC was playing in fighting fraudsters in the industry while describing FTAN president as an ‘’extraordinary Nigerian.”

He further commended the bold efforts of the association and the ministry for withdrawing its hitherto endorsement for the Welcome to Nigeria project. He explained that it was wrong for an individual to claim he was the sole owner of such a project, adding that all over the world, it is the role of the apex tourism, which is the regulatory body that could lay claim to such a project.

He told the FTAN executives that the NTDC has stopped registering tourism consultants in order to checkmate fraudulent acts in the industry.

He later disclosed that the corporation would soon publish the list of all registered associations in the tourism sector so that the public could get to know the credible ones.

In his words: ‘’I want tour operators from FTAN who are credible, because I want a good environment for tourism to thrive, anybody who is not qualified to be an FTAN member should go’’.

Earlier, the FTAN, Mr. Sam Alabi, who sounded the partnership bid with the NTDC, said ‘‘We are together in your spirit of sanitisation.’’

He explained that he took over the FTAN with virtually nothing on ground, but had been able to resolve most of the.

Alabi described FTAN’s relationship with the NTDC as cordial, adding that the FTAN was association of associations, created at the instance of Federal Ministry of Tourism in 1997, whereas the NTDC was a creation of Decree 1992, with wide ranging controlling power over the tourism industry.

He further described the roles of NTDC in the sector as being that of an apex regulator meant to ensure sanity just like the Central Bank of Nigeria, Security and Exchange Commission, etc.

The FTAN president decried the issue of multiple taxes in the industry. According to him, “the tourism industry in Nigeria is over taxed.’’ He recalled with nostalgia the attempts made by some states to embark on parallel registration of hotels and other allied services.

Alabi affirmed that his leadership had declined every proposal requiring FTAN endorsement because none of the groups were association members or a corporate member of FTAN. However, he said that FTAN would support any of its association members that have a programme worth its salt. His words.” FTAN would not only endorse it, but will also participate if allowed to do so by that association’’.
The FTAN president later solicited the support of NTDC in facilitating the smooth operation of the association.

Comments (0)

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form