The president of the Nigerian Guild of Tourism Writers, Comrade Wale Ojo-Lanre, has commended the 8th Senate for coming out with one of the best proactive bills about the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).
Ojo-Lanre made the commendation in a chat with journalists after the public hearing on a Bill for an Act on the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), held at Conference Room 022 of the Senate building under the auspices of the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, on Thursday.
The tourism buff asserted that it is only the enemies of progress of the Nigerian tourism industry that will not commend the Senate for the giant stride of ensuring the needed fundamental legislation to establish a well-grounded, globally proactive tourism sector in Nigeria.
His words: “I must confess that the 8th Senate is a crop of proactive patriots who are willing to starve themselves of conveniences to ensure planting and entrenching fundamental legislations necessary to propel an enviable positive change and development in Nigeria.
“Though the Senate is on recess, the majority of the members of the Committee were present at the public hearing. Even the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who could not make it to the hearing, made it a point of duty to be ably represented by Senator Bala Ibn N Allah, Senate Minority Whip, who disclosed that the NTDA Bill will reflect the intervention of those stakeholders.
“While the Committee on Culture and Tourism under the effective leadership of Senator Mathew Urhoghide has distinguished itself as having a rare interest in the development of Nigerian tourism by ensuring the planting and entrenching of the fundamental legislations necessary for the sector to blossom and for seamless exploration and enhancement of tourism potentialities by the nation and its citizens.”
Ojo-Lanre noted that barely two months ago, the same committee, under Senator Urhoghide, gathered tourism stakeholders at the same venue for the imputation of their views, contribution and input into the NIHOTOUR Bill 2017, which, according to him, was successfully conducted and applauded by the stakeholders.
The former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Chapter, also commended the foresight of the NTDC Director-General, Mr. Folorunsho Coker, for the Nigerian tourism industry.
“Coker’s appeal to the economic sensibilities and patriotism of the stakeholders is highly commendable,” Ojo-Lanre remarked.
While emphasising the need for sequestering of the Tourism Ministry, Ojo-Lanre commended Mrs Chika Balogun, Director-General, NIHOTOUR, for her well-articulated submission and support for the NTDC Bill.
Other stakeholders and participants in the public hearing the President of the Nigerian Guild of Tourism Writers commended, included: Director–General, National Council for Museums and Monuments (MCMM), the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Hotel Owners Forum of Abuja, HOFA, MD, Transcorp Hilton Hotels, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF); the Institute of Tourism Professionals (ITP), National Association of Travel agencies (NANTA), the National Association of Tour Operators; the Nigeria Standard Organisation (NSO); and private individuals.
He charged all the tourism stakeholders to work together for the success of the Bill and the advancement of the Nigerian tourism industry, which, according to him, will improve the lot of the Nigerian tourism practitioners and the nation at large.
