The Nation Newspaper

Category: Travels on Saturday

  • Nigeria partners UNWTO to implement tourism master plan Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said his ministry is partnering the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in the implementation of the National Tourism Development master plan in order to optimally harness the country’s tourism potential.

    The minister disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday when he declared open the Fourth Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition organized by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN).

    “Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that the programmes and policies to fully harness the country’s vast tourism potential over the next one and half decades are anchored on the National Tourism Development Master Plan. In order to ensure its full implementation, the ministry sought and secured the support of the UNWTO to assist in the implementation of the Tourism Master Plan,” he said.

    The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gekpe, said pursuant to the implementation of the master plan, the UNWTO is already seeking the support of some donor agencies to assist Nigeria with funds for the execution of the project on the Strengthening of National Tourism Statistical System and the development of a Tourism Satellite Account for Nigeria.

    He said this became necessary because lack of accurate statistics on arrivals and receipts is one of the major problems militating against the development of tourism in Nigeria.

    Alhaji Mohammed said the Ministry of Information and Culture will soon inaugurate a National Consultative Forum that will review the recommendations of the UNWTO Post Technical Mission Project Document, with membership of the Forum drawn from all critical stakeholders in the Tourism Sector, including FTAN.

    He said the private sector is critical to the development of tourism in the country, hence the government’s decision to build an enduring framework for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to provide the required confidence for prospective investors.

    The minister said the government has fashioned out tourism investment incentives such as tax exemption for up to three years, export/import incentives, land at concessionary rate and work permit to foreigners with specialized skills in order to attract private sector investment.

  • Amachree commends Wike for hosting NAFEST

    Nigeria’s father of tourism, Chief Mike Amachree, has commended the Rivers State government for recently hosting the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in the state.

    Chief Mike Amachree made the commendation when he played host to a team from the National Council for Arts and Culture, led by its Director General, Otunba Segun Runsewe , at the  Brooklyn Tourists Centre, Rumuosi Port Harcourt.

    Welcoming his guest, an elated Amachree said the commendation has become necessary in view of several national and international events that the Rivers State government had attracted to the state within the three years of its inception to foster economic growth of the state.

    He challenged Runsewe not to relent efforts and to  persuade the different tiers of government  on the need to  provide an enabling environment for  tourism to thrive in the country.

    According to him, tourism promotion and advancement is entirely private sector driven hence the government should provide the necessary infrastructure and enabling environment for tourism growth in the country enjoining the director general to use his good office to liaise with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to enlist the Owu Waterfalls in Kwara State and Wase Mountain in Plateau State among the wonders of the world which is already exhibited in his Museum of African History and Culture in Port Harcourt.

    Earlier, Otunba Segun Runsewe  intimated Amachree of the significance of his visit which he said was long over-due.

    Otunba Rusewe asserted that Chief Amachree has used his youthful age to set a pace in the tourism industry in Nigeria urging all and sundry to imbibe his shining examples.

    Runsewe assured Amachree of his determination to make the culture cum  tourism sub-sector contribute to the economic advancement of the nation. He  promised that before long, Amachree’s recognition as father of tourism in Nigeria will be extended to the African continent and prayed God to grant him more years to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

  • Ghana signs MOU to host Accra Weizo Fair

    At the recently concluded World Travel Market,  in ExCel, London,  the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the organisers of Accra Weizo to jointly host the event. Accra Weizo is organised by the Akwaaba Travel Market group. The  2019 edition has been fixed for June 22nd and 23rd.

    The Accra Weizo has successfully brought travel professionals from different countries to Ghana for tourism business. It is aimed at creating seamless travel in West Africa.

    The Acting Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) of GTA, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, signed on behalf of Ghana while Mr. Ikechi Uko signed on behalf of Akwaaba Travel Market. “This agreement offers Ghana an opportunity to help build up an already thriving platform into a bigger event. We recognize the efforts and contributions of the organizers but we want the event bigger than it is and we believe it will bring more travel professionals to Ghana,” Agyeman said.

    On his part, Uko thanked GTA for the partnership. His words:  “It takes a man with a vision to see the power behind such platforms and move to take ownership of the project for the growth of tourism in Ghana. I applaud the CEO and his team for this collaboration. We expect that with the goodwill of the government of Ghana, Weizo will grow bigger.” The agreement spells out roles for both sides and time lines to be managed by a joint committee.

  • Scramble for the headship of NIHOTOUR heats up

    Almost two months after the tenure of the former Director General (DG) of the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mrs. Chika Balogun, there is a scramble for the office.  The institute is currently run by an Acting Director General, Alhaji Momoh Kabir.

    The outgone  DG, who was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan,  for an initial tenure of four years, completed her tenure this year and it was not renewed. According to reports, the former DG is angling to return to her position for a second term but  she has a very stiff challenge before her.

    While some people are supporting her return, many believe she had not done enough to deserve a tenure renewal. So far, the presidency has not yet named a new person to head the tourism institute.

    Speaking on the criteria for the new director general of the institute, a retired director, Alhaji Mohammed Sheriff, said: “Sincerely, you know our industry has been bastardised for quite some time. For political reasons, they don’t care about people’s background, what they know and what they can do for the institute. They always assume that it is an administrative position and just anybody can go there. That has been our problem. When such people come, because of their background, they succeed in building themselves without bothering about the progress of the industry itself. If we can get a person who has a background in the industry and is exposed as well as being in the academics, understands the common  language of the sector and what needs to be done, that would be of assistance. I tried to do that when we were first drafting the bill of the institute (NIHOTOUR). If you see that NIHOTOUR bill, there is a distinction for who should chair the governing board, but there is no description for the person who should be the director general. When I did it, my former boss then, thought I didn’t want him to be the director general, he struck out that aspect. Since then, nobody has cared to bring back such requirement and that is more important than the chairman of the governing council.” Sheriff however said Mrs. Chika Balogun did not do badly and as such could be brought back.

    However, another industry practitioner who prefers anonymity said Chika’s inability to carry the private sector along, especially during the hearing of the NIHOTOUR Act which put her at loggerheads with the private sector industry practitioner was a huge minus: “Mrs. Chika Balogun did well, although the only area she had problem was that she never understood civil service etiquette. She never understood how to direct government policies.

    “She started having problem during the hearing on the enabling act setting up NIHOTOUR. She took the right step at the right time, but the decision not to carry along the tourism stakeholders and liaise with people within the industry was a minus.

    “Also, she did not consult actual key players who started the institute. Organizationally and structurally, I will give her pass mark. She had a vision on how to standardize the programmes of NIHOTOUR. She also did wonderfully well in the area of networking to improve the quality of the tuition being impacted by NIHOTOUR.

    “Also she tried to bring in professionalism by putting in the right people in the right place. She is somebody that had a vision of liaising with the private sector which brought in instant development. She had the vision of M.K. Bashir, the first director general. I believe if she is brought back, she will perform well still.”

    Some names of individuals in the tourism industry are being suggested for the headship of NIHOTOUR. Among them are: Mr. Ashamu Fadipe, former Lagos State Permanent Secretary in the former Ministry of Tourism and Inter-governmental Relations during the tenure of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola. Fadipe is thorough bred tourism administration with degree in tourism and has published books on tourism. He currently runs the Badagry Convention Bureau.

    Another is Chief Abiodun Odusanwo. Odusanwo is currently the President of Institute of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria. Odusanwo is a well travelled, and exposed educationist. He was an educationist for many years in the United Kingdom before returning  to Nigeria.

    Many in the industry are also pushing forward the name of Alhaji Mohammed Sherriff,  a former director in NIHOTOUR before retiring. They believe with his vast experience in the institute, bringing him to head the institute would be putting a round peg in a round hole. Other industry practitioners being mentioned include Mr. Ikechi Uko, Mallan Kabir and many others.

  • SCOAN Youtube channel hits milestone

    The Youtube channel of Emmanuel TV, the television arm of Nigeria’s biggest tourist destination and Africa’s number one religious destination, the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun, Lagos, hits a subscriber base of one million. The church’s Youtube channel achieved this figure on the 24th of last month.

    Another impressive figure also shows that number of views of the channel has hit 387 million.

    Emmanuel TV was launched on March 8, 2006 by Prophet T.B. Joshua, the Senior Pastor and founder of SCOAN as well as the Executive Producer of Emmanuel TV. The viewership cuts across a diverse audience in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America.

    Announcing this, the church said: “Thank you one million subscribers!!! To the glory of God, Emmanuel TV has reached over 1,000,000 subscribers on YouTube! One million thanks are not enough to show our appreciation to our one million viewers.”

  • Don wants traditional societies to modernise cultural artifacts for export

    Prof. Terhemba Shija has called on ethnic nationalities in the country to take advantage of technology to modernise their cultural artifacts for export.

    Shija, an Associate Professor of English and literally Arts, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Makurdi that such artifacts would generate foreign exchange for the country and enhance the economic status of such societies if modernised.

    He said that Nigeria had the capacity of raising the economies of respective states as well as generating personal income of artists engaged in such works.

    He expressed regret that the Tivs, who were the predominant ethnic group in the North Central part of the country and the fourth largest ethnic group in the country (2006 Census ), were not contributing anything to human civilisation.

    The professor blamed this on what he termed ” their colonial concept of culture”.

    “The Tivs believe that culture is what happened in the past, but culture is not archival, it is civilization; this has affected their contributions to world civilisation.

    ”Take for instance, their traditional dress, its thick fabric does

    not permit users to wear it as an everyday dress because of the heat it produces, you can only wear it during occasions.

    ”But this dress can be modernised to become very light in texture, while still retaining its black and white stripes.

    “Anything that is not developed deminises in value. So, the Tivs must develop their cultural artifacts to make their contribution to human civilisation,” he said.

  • Revealed: How IPOB scuttled $120m finance for Enyimba Hotel

    At the early stage of the current government of Abia State under Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, there was an announcement that the jinxed and abandoned Enyimba International Hotel project, began by the late Chief Sam Mbakwe, then governor of the defunct Imo State, was about to be resuscitated and completed. An average hotel project takes about 18 months to two years. Months to the end of the first tenure of the current state government, the hope of completing the hotel project has once again been dashed.

    Investigation by The Nation reveals that the non conducive business climate in Aba city last year, as a result of the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), temporarily truncated the project.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of Investory Signatures Limited, the investment firm with 65 per cent equity stake in Aba SPV Limited, owners of Enyimba International Hotel, Dr. Wasiu Babalola, revealed the reason why the hotel is still not completed. He said it was the activities of IPOB that truncated the project.

    He said: “Initially, funding was the issue. But towards the end of last year, we were able to secure the funding from the United States of America (USA). While we were finishing the discussion for the project’s funding, that was when the IPOB, said there should be no movement in Aba. It became a national issue. So, those guys (investors) pulled out.

    “They said if a regional militia could say something and everybody stayed indoors, what would happen if they invest their money and IPOB wakes up to say they don’t want the hotel and everybody follows them? That was how that one was stalled. I even have the offer letter they gave me in principle, which is about 120 million dollars for the project.”

    Babalola further said: “What we are now looking at, based on the recent meeting we had in Ghana, is the option of financing with the suppliers. Since no investor wants to put down funds in Aba at the moment until after the elections, we are trying to see if we can talk with the suppliers to deliver the job so that instead of paying them 100 per cent, we would pay like 20 per cent while they will get their balance after the hotel might have opened. We are hoping by then, other investors might have started showing interest. That is the model we are looking at.”

    Asked whether the state government is doing enough, in the light of this hiccup, to make the hotel project a reality, Babalola said: “ The fault is not from the government. The Abia State government is not even a party to Enyimba Hotel. The state government does not have  a stake in the project. They have no equity. They just came in to show the political will for the project. These are some of the things we used to help in getting the funding. What the state government did which we give them the kudos for was that they supported the project with the political will, which is one of the things we used in canvassing on the viability of the project. The government itself does not have any stake in Enyimba Hotel. It is an entirely a private sector initiative.

    “So, the project would have come up if not for the IPOB issue last year. With the offer letter we got, what we needed for Enyimba Hotel was about 50 million Dollars. For the funding, they said the minimum of about 100 million Dollars, so we had to add two projects in Lagos. That was the whole idea, but it was the IPOB issue that spoilt everything.  So, it is more of a societal issue that is affecting the project, because the action of IPOB sent the wrong signal to the international. So, what we are looking at now is an alternative funding method because the guys  are not  willing to proceed because of the issues mentioned above. So, we are now trying to look at equity participation but with the suppliers.”

    Asked why the Abia State government can’t  give a loan guarantee for the project as seen during the construction of Tinapa, Babalola said: “Tinapa is owned by  Cross River State and they had to talk to the Federal Government to get the loan guarantee based on the allocation the state receives from the Federation Account. Enyimba is not a state project. It is an entirely private sector project. It was formally a project of Eastern Central State. When they created Imo State it was transferred to Imo State. The then governor of Imo State, the late Chief Sam Mbakwe started the public-private sector partnership on the project. They had already sold like 80 per cent to private equity  as at that time. When they transferred it to Abia State, the state had only about 20 per cent. Abia State later sold its 20 per cent to the organized private sector. So, it is entirely a private sector project. Had it been the government has about five per cent, then the state government could be called upon to give a loan guarantee. That is why it is difficult for the state government to give a bank guarantee for loan on the project.”

  • HATMAN elects new excos

    Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN), has elected new executives to pilot its affairs for the next three years. The new excos were elected during the recently held  12th National Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja. Mr. Sam Aturu of Compass Hotel, Abuja, was elected as the new president. Other members of the executive include:   Mrs. Lilian Managwu (Federal Polytechnic Uwana), Ist Vice President; Mrs. Comfort Ogbonna (Yabatech), 2nd Vice President; Mr. Lanre Awoseyin, Executive National Secretary; Miss Lauretta Bickersteth (Wavecrest), Deputy National Secretary; Mrs. Flora Goka (NIHOTOUR), National Treasurer; Mr. Amos Opoola (Eclipse Travel and Tours), Financial Secretary; Mr. Reuben Ademola (ABU Zaria), Assistant Financial Secretary; Mr. Eddy Nwokorie (Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro), Natioanal Publicity Secretar; Mr. Femi Oluyisola (University of Ibadan), Deputy National Publicity Secretary; Mr. Tongshinen Dimfwina (Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi), Nationaal Welfare Officer; Ndidi Ezeibe (Federal Polytechnic, Nekede), National Membership Officer; Dr. Judipat N. Obiora (University of Port Harcourt), Membership Officer, South South; Mrs. A.C. Ayogu (IMT Enugu), Membership Officer, South East; Mrs. Adeola Olagunju S&S Hotel, Lagos), Membership Officer, South West; Abdulsalam Abdulfatah (Federal Polytechnic,Bauchi), Membership Officer, North East; Ande Danjuma (Federal University, Wukari)Membership Officer, North West; Dr. Mathew Adejoh (Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi), Internal Auditor; Alhaji Aliyu Badaki (Kapital Club and Apartments, Abuja), ex-officio member.

    In his welcome cum valedictory speech, the immediate past president of the association, Alhaji Badaki Aliyu, said the policy trust of the conference was for the members as professionals in the tourism industry to be focused and kept abreast of happenings in the industry for them to succeed in their drives towards tourism development in Nigeria.

    He disclosed that in order to groom the younger people studying Hospitality and Tourism courses, students’ conference was introduced to give them opportunity to learn, interact and brainstorm on their carrier opportunities and development.

    Badaki further  said it was in a conference like the AGM, six years ago, that he and other members of the executive were elected and became the longest tenure to pilot the affairs of the association. He commended the members for their support during his tenure.

  • Nigerian tour operators at war with Tanzania over new visa rule

    The Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) has sent a strongly worded protest letter to the United Republic of Tanzania through the country’s embassy in Nigeria over the shabby treatment of Nigerian tourists as a result of the removal of visa free status hitherto enjoyed by Nigerians visiting the country. NATOP said no member should sell any Tanzanian destination until the Tanzanian government clarifies the new visa rules as it affects Nigerians.

    Before,  Nigerians, like citizens of countries such as Gambia, Tanzania and others had enjoyed a visa-free entry into the country. However, the new visa policy of Tanzania which came into effect on October 7, removed Nigeria from the list of countries to enjoy visa-free entry. However, West African countries like Ghana and the Gambia still enjoy such privilege.

    The new visa regime in Tanzania which came into effect last week, October 7, with no transition period,  has caused a lot of discomfort and hardship to many Nigeria travelers who were unaware of the new rule. A video went viral of two Nigerian ladies residing in Dublin, Northern Island who had gone on a vacation to Tanzania with the knowledge that the country is visa free for Nigerians not knowing that the status had changed. They were stopped at the Julius Nyerere International Airport and were deported back to Dublin.

    The President of the Nigerian of Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), Hajia Bilkisu Abdul, said it was on the basis of this development that she sought to speak with the Tanzanian ambassador to Nigeria. Her words: “ I was very much troubled when I saw this video online and decided to speak with the Tanzanian ambassador to Nigeria. A lady picked the phone and I explained the reason for seeking an appointment with the ambassador. She apologised and gave an email to send my request to. This was on Tuesday afternoon. Up till this morning, there has not been any acknowledgment of the email or a reply of my letter. As a body, we have decided to tell our members to suspend further sale of tour packages to Tanzania.

    In line with the pronouncement by NATOP president, the association issued a press release stating reasons for suspending sales of Tanzanian packages. “Until October 7, Nigerians travelled to Tanzania and got visa on arrival. This law was changed suddenly without informing the airlines and tour operators. All airlines still carry Nigerians based on the information available on Tanzania immigration website. So many Nigerian tourists on their way to Zanzibar were taken unawares and were deported to their countries of departure.”

    NATOP said until the Tanzanian government clarifies their new visa rules, Nigerian tour operators should stop selling Tanzanian packages.

    Calls put across to the Tanzanian embassy Thursday afternoon was not answered. When the Tanzania Immigration Authority in Dar es Salaam was reached, one of the officers who answered  the call said the new development was communicated to the Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs last Monday, October 15, to inform the countries affected by the development and that they have also informed the airlines on the new rule. Up till last Thursday, there is no information on the new visa status on the Tanzania Immigration Authority’s website. Also, the argument that airlines have been informed may not be true as no airline would board a passenger  that they it can’t ascertain the visa status.

  • NAFEST 2018: NCAC, Rivers State good to go

    Arrangements are in top gear to ensure a historic hosting of the 2018 edition of National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in Rivers State, South-South, Nigeria.

    The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, in a chat with The Nation said the council is fully prepared to showcase the glamour of Nigeria’s diverse cultures to the world during the festival which is billed to hold  from October 21 to 28.

    Runsewe was upbeat that 2018 NAFEST will be the best ever following the massive mobilisation of equipments and facilities including the mass exodus of stakeholders from all parts of Nigeria to Rivers State for the one-week fanfare.

    “A lot of visitors both from within and outside Nigeria are on their way to Rivers State and I can confirm to you that reports reaching us from the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) indicate that hotels are in for good business,” he stated.

    “This is a major boost and it is good for the economy of Rivers State and by extension, Nigeria because the massive participation and influx of people from all works of life will ensure very high commercial activities in the state.”

    During  the chat, Otunba Runsewe expressed his excitement particularly about the level of involvement by Rivers youths who are set to take full advantage of NAFEST 2018 in not only showcasing Rivers culture, but by also benefitting  from the numerous youth empowerment components of NAFEST initiated by the NCAC.

    He enjoined all stakeholders and indeed Nigerians to support NAFEST 2018 as a unifying force for cultural integration and harmony just as he affirmed the NCAC’s total commitment in projecting Nigeria’s rich culture throughout the fiesta.

    Runsewe concluded the statement by thanking the Executive Governor of Rivers State, his Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and the good people of the state for aligning with NCAC in its drive towards a successful hosting of NAFEST which according to the NCAC chief is a reaffirmation of the governor’s commitment towards hosting the best NAFEST ever.