Nigerian tourism at cross roads: Our ‘mumu don do’

When men who appear as “tree” are hired to speak for tourism at the hallowed chambers of the national assembly, then we are all in big trouble. For the 57 years of our national existence, it has never been well with our tourism aspirations. We flutter, fumble and thrive on excuses for our seemingly programmed failure on our tourism actions plans and policies.

In Nigeria, we do not lack tourism experts but openly and brazenly chose to enthrone tourism mediocre and illiterates who end up ruling us with oppression, disdain and disrespect. Interestingly, we clap for them too early in day and keep quite when we should join hands together to shout them down. Unfortunately for me, I had seen them, many of them, both in private sector and especially in the public sector come and go. They leave behind sorrow and despair and again, we forget too soon and try again.

In the past two months, very significant yet unexplainable process has been sold to the industry as a major trust and solution finder to our many tourism troubles. As patriots, we are quick to jump into the new tourism train but did not commune to ask our drivers, the national assembly committee on tourism if our views will ever count. As human shield and horses for the growth of the industry, the private sector tourism players gave up comfort and spared no cost to help change the rebirth of tourism institutions in Nigeria.

First, it was with the proposed bill for National Institute for Tourism Studies (NIHOTOUR). There were no prior consultation with the private sector for effective engagement on strategic inputs, it was a proposed bill to which only the senate committee chairman on tourism, Senator (Pharmacist) Mattew Urhoghide and the management of the Institute would possibly have passed into law but for legislative expectations that such be subjected to public hearing. Indeed, Senator Urhoghide told us the bill was his committee’s making and therefore we should be kind and temperate in our opinions not to throw its entire content out of the window. I wonder what this PDP Senator from Edo State expects us to do, look the other way as “mumus” (fools)?.The recent NIHOTOUR hearing, indeed presented to me a new picture of private sector strength and unity not to swallow reckless, selfish, draconian and ambitions propositions as

The recent NIHOTOUR hearing, indeed presented to me a new picture of private sector strength and unity not to swallow reckless, selfish, draconian and ambitions propositions as true path to our tourism tomorrow. Our collective will to reject and return a bad NIHOTOUR product and proposal back to Senator Urhoghide and his friends at the federal government Institute did again confirm that industry players may no longer stomach deceit and disrespect even the Judas in our midst shamefully backed out and recanted.

For a long time, the private sector tourism players were not carried along in the overall execution of Nigerian tourism policies or action plans. As wont with most appointees selected to serve the needs of practitioners, and the general good of the industry, the managers of the critical government tourism institutions have always led us by the nose and will only deal with us on the need to know basis when it catches their fancy.Sometimes, they are presented to us as the “Solomon’s” of tourism but they end up as Rehoboam, the biblical renegade son of Solomon, punishing us with yokes and burdens more than we could ever imagine. At NIHOTOUR and NTDC, these leaders will never take our advice but will quickly consult with the fly-by-night tourism operators cum advocates in our midst, the donkeys and those out to embellish their stomach.

Sometimes, they are presented to us as the “Solomon’s” of tourism but they end up as Rehoboam, the biblical renegade son of Solomon, punishing us with yokes and burdens more than we could ever imagine. At NIHOTOUR and NTDC, these leaders will never take our advice but will quickly consult with the fly-by-night tourism operators cum advocates in our midst, the donkeys and those out to embellish their stomach.

As it was with NIHOTOUR proposed tourism bill, NTDC also came up with its own shenanigan during its own public hearing to repeal and cause an amendment of certain sections of its extant law. Once again, the tourism donkeys, were in greater number, led by the nose and an ordinarily “supposed” legislative opportunity to correct and offer sincere, progressive advice for the growth of the sector made to look like political parties contesting for offices, a divide and rule mantra out of fashion in serious tourism nations. Anyway, this is Nigeria.Sadly, men of goodwill boycotted the event and the “Rehoboams” had a field day. As usual, there was no consultation and open platform to engage and aggregate positive and collective inputs that could make the dream sought by

Sadly, men of goodwill boycotted the event and the “Rehoboams” had a field day. As usual, there was no consultation and open platform to engage and aggregate positive and collective inputs that could make the dream sought by current management of NTDC to enjoy sustainable support and goodwill from same industry and people which it seeks to led and provide succour.It is laughable to imagine that such attempt even if the senate passes it into law will ever find support with operators and various component units of the

It is laughable to imagine that such attempt even if the senate passes it into law will ever find support with operators and various component units of the federation. I recall a significant incident that happened prior to the Supreme Court judgment on the extant NTDC act as regards classification and grading of hotels on Nigeria in 2013.
Even though I hold the view that NTDC under Otunba Segun Runsewe was more democratic and very open in its leadership and relationship with the private sector and the federating states, the lawyers of NTDC, however did not do justice with their appearance at the Supreme Court, hence that decision to let the states handle their tourism aspirations.However, the Supreme Court issue took place because Runsewe refused to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to hand over the 40% financial proceeds of the proposed classification to Lagos state tourism officials. NTDC under Runsewe has proposed that proceeds from the classifications and grading effort be shared on 50% to

However, the Supreme Court issue took place because Runsewe refused to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to hand over the 40% financial proceeds of the proposed classification to Lagos state tourism officials. NTDC under Runsewe has proposed that proceeds from the classifications and grading effort be shared on 50% to federal government as sole sponsor and driver of the initiative while each state gets 40% and local governments 10%. Lagos tourism officials refused and headed to the Supreme Court and were in the forefront to advocate that NTDC has no place in law.Till date, despite that “victory” at the Supreme Court, Lagos has been unable to grade and classify hotels and related tourism institutions in its domain which speaks volume of the general intentions of our government appointees to lead us to the promised tourism land.

Till date, despite that “victory” at the Supreme Court, Lagos has been unable to grade and classify hotels and related tourism institutions in its domain which speaks volume of the general intentions of our government appointees to lead us to the promised tourism land.At the federal level, under PDP and Edem Duke as Tourism Minister, the federal government intervention fund for tourism under Sure-P running into millions of naira disappeared into thin air with fake tourism sites as briefs for the wastage. These exposures and

At the federal level, under PDP and Edem Duke as Tourism Minister, the federal government intervention fund for tourism under Sure-P running into millions of naira disappeared into thin air with fake tourism sites as briefs for the wastage. These exposures and many more are part of the content of a tourism fact sheet am putting together and which will be launched soon. Our mumu don do biko, Ejo o, Chikena! So let Senator Mattew Urhoghide stop talking down on Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.