The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NTDC

  • NTDC workers’ strike enters second week

    NTDC workers’ strike enters second week

    The strike by workers of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), the country’s apex tourism body, has entered the second week.

    The workers have vowed to continue with the industrial action until the agency’s director general, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, is removed from office.

    Last week, official activities at the parastatal’s Abuja and zonal offices were stopped.

    The workers, through their union, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), have made several allegations against Mrs. Mbanefo.

    They accused her of starving the agency of fund under the guise that the Federal Government was no longer funding the parastatal.

    The workers accused her of “going behind to collect huge allocation from the Federal Government”.

    The NTDC Chapel Chairman of AUPTCRE, Sam Unwuchola Okpomo, said as at July 2014, the Federal Government released N52,014,821 as capital budget and N342, 654,807 for training and other logistics to the agency.

    However, when The Nation called Mrs. Mbanefo, she denied any wrongdoing, insisting that there was no problem at the NTDC.

    She said: “There is no problem at NTDC; everything is going on fine.” When told that NTDC chairman of AUPTCRE had spoken to The Nation to confirm the problem in the agency, she said efforts were on to resolve it.

    She claimed that she will be meeting with the union officials tomorrow.

    However, the NTDC chapel chairman said this was not true, asking why she was not coming to the office, if all was well.

     

     

     

     

  • Save us from multiple taxation, hoteliers urge NTDC

    An appeal has gone to the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to save the tourism and hospitality sector from multiple taxation.

    The Chairman/Chief Executive of a five-star hotel in Ado-Ekiti, De Jewel Apartment, Chief Oyedeji Olajubu, who made the call at the weekend said multiple taxes by agents of local, state and federal governments is killing tourism and hospitality sector.

    He advocated tax relief for investors in appreciation of their roles in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and creation of employment of opportunities

    Olajubu regretted that the tax being imposed on hotels by the State and federal governments is killing the industry and dissuading investors from investing heavily in the sector.

    The hotel owner pointed out that aside from looking into the crippling and burdensome taxes affecting the hotel industry, the Federal Government should also improve power supply across the country, saying his hotel  spent over  N2 million to buy diesel monthly, a situation he said has been affecting his profit margin.

    He said he decided to establish the 5-star hotels in Ado Ekiti as part of his efforts to confront unemployment among graduates and skilled youths to reduce the burdens on the government.

    Stressing on the need for investors in the sector to be creative in the provision of facilities, Olajubu said the provision of ultra-modern conference Hall, Gymnastic and Sauna facilities , swimming pool for children  and adults as well as Internet Service and other facilities , makes  the De Jewel Apartment  a 21st century hotel in Ekiti.

    He said the hotel has discharged its corporate Social Responsibility to the people by providing electricity to the residents within the vicinity of its operation and made donations to a police station in the Odo Ado Division of the Nigeria Police urging investors in the sector to emulate this virtue.

    “The NTDC as a regulatory body must fight for us in this area of taxation.

    “The Federal Government through the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the State Government through its tax collectors always approach us for taxes. We also pay tenement rate, which are affecting our investment and reducing our ability to expand.

    “The Signage and advert agency will come and impose its charges. The NTDC needs to do a proper registration of all hotels and come up with recommendation to the State and Federal governments on a definite tax that can be paid and this should be based on the services being rendered.”

     

     

     

     

  • Jonathan and neglect of Yoruba

    Jonathan and neglect of Yoruba

    IR:  I read a letter to the editor written by Chief Kola Aderemi published in The Nation of December 23 in which the Ekiti chief accused President Goodluck Jonathan of neglecting and marginalizing the Yoruba race in power sharing in the country, and that the President is now frantically courting the race to realize his  re- election ambition.

    Chief Aderemi reminded Nigerians how President Jonathan removed some Yoruba figures from national offices and replaced them with people of Igbo extraction.

    According to him, “nothing illustrates President Jonathan’s hatred for Yoruba better than the way he removed some Yoruba people from key positions on allegation of being too close to the former President Olusegun Obasanjo. To buttress my point, I recalled how he removed Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary. Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa was removed as Director General of Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, Otunba Segun Runsewe was removed as Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC) and they were replaced with Igbo people”.

    What impressed me most in that letter was the disclosure that from number one to 22 most important positions in the country, there is no Yoruba person. But now that 2015 election is around the corner, President Jonathan is now courting Yoruba race for electoral support. No, this is too cheap to swallow. I totally align myself with Chief Aderemi’s position that Yoruba race must be tactical and politically sagacious in their choice.

    In addition to the list of Yoruba people removed from office by President Jonathan, I recall that Segun Oni was removed as PDP South-west deputy chairman, Olu Oluleye was removed from Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) among others. Why is President Jonathan now desperate for the people he hates to see in his government?

    Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo State who was defending the President recently cannot speak for Yoruba race. By the way, where was Mimiko when Jonathan was removing Yoruba people from public office? It is obvious that President Jonathan has not been fair to Yoruba race. Yet, this is the race that assisted him to attain the present status!  Yoruba should think twice before supporting him again, because it is clear that the race has been cheated politically. As if Mimiko was equally reminding us how President Jonathan treated us with disdain, hear what he said, “a Yoruba man was to be Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011 but was denied and the slot given to North-West geopolitical zone. Also, the position of Minority Leader in the Senate was to be given to the Yoruba but was also taken to the North-central which already had the Senate presidency. The question now is what did Mimiko do to correct the situation? Why is he now defending and supporting Jonathan to woo South-west that has been badly cheated? Yoruba is wiser for this.  We are not stupid and we will not take stupidity from anybody.

     

    • Fatai Arisekola

    Ibadan

  • Union gives NTDC ultimatum

    Union gives NTDC ultimatum

    The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), FCT Council, has given the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) an ultimatum or face industrial action.

    AUPCTRE FCT had on October 27, 2014 sent a letter to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, calling for a need to urgently salvage the NTDC and save it from extinction. AUPCTRE stated that it observed lapses in the ways NTDC affairs were run by the present boss, Mrs Sally Mbanefo.

    Already, AUPCTRE FCT executives, led by its Chairman, Comrade Benjamin Anthony, had visited NTDC Head Office in Area One, Old Secretariat Complex, the second of such visit.

    The allegations against NTDC include the alleged misuse of over N52 million budgeted for capital project development in the capital budget for March to July 2014.

    The union said the Federal Government from February to September 2014 released over N342 million overhead budget meant for training and other logistics, yet no training has been conducted  while zonal offices of NTDC lacked furniture, computers and so on.

    It accused Mbanefo of being harsh, temperamental and rude to staff whom she used to communicate through text messages and coercing staff to beg for money.

    Other allegations included release of NTDC staff bus to an outsider, employment of 50 workers without regard to federal character and public service procedure.

    Mbanefo, when she met the AUPCTRE executives, recently, admitted: “I have made mistakes, I had been listening to directors who have not properly advised me, but as the accounting officer, I take full responsibility for all the lapses in the corporation.”

  • Nigeria’s $7b tourism industry untapped, says NTDC chief

    Nigeria’s $7b tourism industry untapped, says NTDC chief

    WITH the potential to earn at least $7 billion yearly from its tourist markets, stakeholders in the tourism industry have emphasised the need for sustainable partnerships and linkages to harness the opportunities in the industry.

    Specifically, Nigeria’s tourist markets hold a $4 billion domestic market and a $3 billion Diaspora market yet to be maximally explored for growth.

    According to the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), the domestic tourism market has a very high revenue and job creation potential but remains under explored, as Nigerians’ preference for foreign tourism takes toll on the sector.

    Speaking on the sideline of a seminar organised by the Hotel, Tourism and Entertainment Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos, the Director-General, NTDC, Mrs Sally Mbanefo, stated that religious tourism topped the bulk of domestic tourism recorded last year.

    She said: “In 2013, Nigeria recorded a total of 4,037,808 international tourist arrivals which accounted for $649.5 million in expenditure, while 3,081,808 domestic tourists accounted for $470.6 million during the period.

    “Religious tourism recorded over a million domestic tourists and a substantial number of international tourists in 2013. In order to address the challenges bedeviling the tourism sector, there is need to address certain concerns including, infrastructure challenge, legal changes, funding, collaboration between state governments as well as with the private sector.”

    She said though efforts were being made by the government to address the issue of capital flight through tourism, there is still more to be done.

    She said: “The NTDC and government in general are aware that developing our local tourism industry for domestic consumption will not be an easy task as it is no longer a secret that more and more Nigerians that can afford it travel abroad everyday.

    “Government can no longer fold its arms and continue to watch the daily capital flight that leaves our over 4,279 hotels and numerous restaurants dry. Nigeria must put in place a mechanism through which benefits can be derived from all departures. “We must develop domestic tourism, not just for paid travelers alone, but leisure infrastructure in our various communities for citizens who cannot afford to travel.”

    She also urged the creation of a National Tourism Policy, which she argued would help to develop sustainable tourism by capitalising on heritage diversity as the basis for promoting domestic and international tourism.

    On the challenges, Mbanefo urged government on the need to build competitive infrastructure, establish tourism on arrival and also review the Land Use Act to enable private sector access land for development.

    Executive Director, Transcorp Hotels and Tourism Services Limited, Ms Okaima Ohizua also harped on the need to have competitive infrastructure to attract tourists into country. She said: “As a tourists what are the things that will make me want to visit a country such as Nigeria. I will want to ascertain the safety of tourists as they move from one point to the other. Is the rail system functional, are the hotels graded and certified to international standard including the fishes served. Is there connectivity from one part of the country to the other.  Can l have access to my cash, how safe and convenient is the health and transport system?”

    Director-General, LCCI, Muda Yusuf said the tourism industry has the potential to mitigate the problem of rising youth unemployment in the country if well positioned to thrive.

    “We must at this point call on government to pay attention to the supporting services sectors like aviation, transport, modern technology that powers electronic transactions and security in our attempt to promote tourism in Nigeria. If we must promote tourism in Nigeria, these sectors must be well fixed,”he added.

    Some stakeholders within the private sector, especially the hotels and hospitality industry hinged the growth of the sector to proper sectoral linkages as well as regulations to drive key planned actions.

  • How govt. boosts tourism growth in Nigeria

    How govt. boosts tourism growth in Nigeria

    DIRECTOR-GENERAL of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Dr (Mrs) Sally Mbanefo, has ascribed the steady and speedy growth of tourism in Nigeria to the conscious efforts of the President Goodluck Jonathan led-administration to create an enabling environment for the money-spinning industry to thrive in the country.She said that last year, Nigeria recorded a total of 4,037,808 international tourist arrivals which accounted for US $649,468,486 in expenditure. “Domestic tourism arrivals for 2013 recorded 3,081,808 while US $470,606,780 formed the expenditure. This year, Osun Osogbo Festival recorded 12,207 tourist arrivals while 18,567,060 accounted for the expenditure compared to 21,713 tourists recorded last year. The sharp drop was due to restrictions placed by the government to control the spread of Ebola virus. Sango Festival, which is celebrated in 43 countries around the world recorded 88 international visitors and over 5,000 domestic tourist arrivals this year,” she said.

    Dr Mbanefo spoke at this year’s edition of the World Tourism Day (WTD), with the theme, “Tourism and Community Development,” organised by the Ministry of Tourism Culture and National Orientation and NTDC, held at the Art and Craft Village, Abuja, last Saturday.

    She said that President Jonathan’s successful privatisation of the power sector resulted in an enhanced power generation and supply, which according to her is very important in the tourism industry as it will reduce the overhead expenses of hospitality operators.

    “President Jonathan remarkably upgraded airports in the country, which had not be considered necessary by previous administration, while Mr President, who is well knowledgeable about the imports of transportation channels to the development of tourism industry rehabilitation old roads and constructed new roads, while overhauling the railways in the country,” Mbanefo said.

    Dr Mbanefo added that tourism can only prosper if it engages the local population by contributing to the social values such as participation, education and enhanced local governance, noting that “there can be no real tourism development, if such development damages in any way the value and the culture of host communities or if the socio-economic benefits generated by the tourism sector do not trickle down to the community level.

    “It is important for stakeholders in the tourism sector to have competitive power over and above what is obtained in other countries of Africa. Therefore, it is imperative that as joint stakeholders, we provide value added content, enhanced services to meet tourists’ needs. All these would result in a synergy of efforts as domestic tourism would enable stakeholders to have the opportunity of finding each other,” Mbanefo said.

    Dr Mbanefo who said that tourism needed to collaborate with other sectors to grow expectedly charged the private sector and non-governmental agencies (NGOs) to contribute more to the tourism industry, saying that “this will enable us to jointly achieve our desired objectives. This is because in promoting a tourism development strategy, I cannot rule out the contributions of the private sector. I believe their involvement in conjunction with state governments and government agencies would provide a comprehensive approach to the development and promotion of domestic tourism in the country.”

    The NTDC boss who disclosed the efforts of her administration in promoting and developing potentials in the country, with domestic tourism as a catalyst, lauded the Minister of Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Nkechi Ejele for their supportive roles.

    She disclosed that she had visited over 20 states, meeting with stakeholders in the industry, government and traditional rulers, among others, while joining ventures with the private sector. She added that NTDC under her administration collaborated with the expatriates through the diplomatic communities to sell Nigeria’s tourism potentials and woo foreign tourists to visit and appreciate the fascinating tourist destinations and crowd-pulling festivals in Nigeria.

    Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Taleb Rifai, who  was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism Culture and National Orientation, Mrs Ejele, said this year’s WTD represents an opportunity to further advance tourism’s contribution to economic, social and environmental sustainability.

    “On the occasion of World Tourism Day 2014, I would like to invite all tourism stakeholders and host communities to come together and celebrate this day as a symbol of our common efforts in making tourism a true pillar of community development and community the basis of a more sustainable tourism sector,” the message read in part.

    The Permanent Secretary during exhibition of the Art and Craft Village lauded the activities of the NTDC boss, saying, “Clap for the NTDC DG, Dr Mbanefo. She is working.”

    Mrs Ejele noted that this was no rivalry between NTDC and the Ministry of Tourism, adding that Dr Mbanefo was given a short notice to arrange for the 2014 WTD and she delivered, in spite of paucity of fund.

  • How govt boosts tourism growth

    How govt boosts tourism growth

    DIRECTOR-GENERAL of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Dr (Mrs) Sally Mbanefo, has ascribed the steady and speedy growth of tourism in Nigeria to the conscious efforts of the President Goodluck Jonathan led-administration to create an enabling environment for the money-spinning industry to thrive in the country.

    Dr Mbanefo spoke at this year’s edition of the World Tourism Day (WTD), with the theme, “Tourism and Community Development,” organised by the Ministry of Tourism Culture and National Orientation and NTDC, held at the Art and Craft Village, Abuja, last Saturday.

    She said that President Jonathan’s successful privatisation of the power sector resulted in an enhanced power generation and supply, which according to her is very important in the tourism industry as it will reduce the overhead expenses of hospitality operators.

    “President Jonathan remarkably upgraded airports in the country, which had not be considered necessary by previous administration, while Mr President, who is well knowledgeable about the imports of transportation channels to the development of tourism industry rehabilitation old roads and constructed new roads, while overhauling the railways in the country,” Mbanefo said.

    Dr Mbanefo added that tourism can only prosper if it engages the local population by contributing to the social values such as participation, education and enhanced local governance, noting that “there can be no real tourism development, if such development damages in any way the value and the culture of host communities or if the socio-economic benefits generated by the tourism sector do not trickle down to the community level.

    “It is important for stakeholders in the tourism sector to have competitive power over and above what is obtained in other countries of Africa. Therefore, it is imperative that as joint stakeholders, we provide value added content, enhanced services to meet tourists’ needs. All these would result in a synergy of efforts as domestic tourism would enable stakeholders to have the opportunity of finding each other,” Mbanefo said.

    Dr Mbanefo who said that tourism needed to collaborate with other sectors to grow expectedly charged the private sector and non-governmental agencies (NGOs) to contribute more to the tourism industry, saying that “this will enable us to jointly achieve our desired objectives. This is because in promoting a tourism development strategy, I cannot rule out the contributions of the private sector. I believe their involvement in conjunction with state governments and government agencies would provide a comprehensive approach to the development and promotion of domestic tourism in the country.”

    The NTDC boss who disclosed the efforts of her administration in promoting and developing potentials in the country, with domestic tourism as a catalyst, lauded the Minister of Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Nkechi Ejele for their supportive roles.

    She disclosed that she had visited over 20 states, meeting with stakeholders in the industry, government and traditional rulers, among others, while joining ventures with the private sector. She added that NTDC under her administration collaborated with the expatriates through the diplomatic communities to sell Nigeria’s tourism potentials and woo foreign tourists to visit and appreciate the fascinating tourist destinations and crowd-pulling festivals in Nigeria.

    Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Taleb Rifai, who  was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism Culture and National Orientation, Mrs Ejele, said this year’s WTD represents an opportunity to further advance tourism’s contribution to economic, social and environmental sustainability.

    “On the occasion of World Tourism Day 2014, I would like to invite all tourism stakeholders and host communities to come together and celebrate this day as a symbol of our common efforts in making tourism a true pillar of community development and community the basis of a more sustainable tourism sector,” the message read in part.

    The Permanent Secretary during exhibition of the Art and Craft Village lauded the activities of the NTDC boss, saying, “Clap for the NTDC DG, Dr Mbanefo. She is working.”

    Mrs Ejele noted that this was no rivalry between NTDC and the Ministry of Tourism, adding that Dr Mbanefo was given a short notice to arrange for the 2014 WTD and she delivered, in spite of paucity of fund.

  • NTDC boss backs promotion of Nigerian languages

    NTDC boss backs promotion of Nigerian languages

    The Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Dr Sally Mbanefo has urged parents and guardians to ensure that they speak Nigerian languages at every home, saying it is a strong tool for the promotion of culture.

    She observed that most languages, such as Igbo, are indeed, in danger of going extinct unless something drastic is done to preserve it.

    Mbanefo, who spoke at this year’s national New Yam Festival (Iri Ji Ndi Igbo) at Igbo-Uku, Anambra State, urged traditional rulers in the state to intensify efforts at creating enabling environment for domestic tourism to thrive in their communities. She identified tourism as a principal export for 83 per cent of developing countries and the most significant source of foreign exchange after petroleum. She pledged the Federal Government’s commitment to support and strengthen the festival in order to serve as a veritable channel to promote and market Nigeria’s rich culture.

    “The domestic tourism market has a very high revenue and job creation potentials. Tourism industry contribution to the nation’s GDP is valued at approximately 1.3trillion naira with a 2.6 per cent contribution to total employment of 1,636,500 jobs. My plans to further take tourism to greater heights are increase domestic tourism volume by at least 30 per cent and entrench a culture of tourism among Nigerians, continued collaborative and sustainable partnership with the private sector operators to harness tourism resources and make Nigeria destination hub of Africa, and growing the tourism value chain to enhance revenue generation through innovative products/projects like the Green City,”

    She described the Iriji Festival as a time of thanksgiving and praying for good yields, saying: “I passionately appeal to the Igbos to come together as one and give Igbo-Uku new yam festival a global out-look as other festivals such as Sango. It is an event that should be seen and celebrated by every Igbo son and daughter. It is an epitome of the beauty of Igbo culture. The Igbo nation is a people that are blessed with everything that make a great nation. The human and material resources that are found in Igbo land are enough to make Nigeria Africa’s destination hub.”

    Mbanefo was honoured by His Royal Highness Igwe Martins Nwafor Ezeh Idu II of Igbo-Uku with the title of Ona mma Ndi Igbo in appreciation of her contributions to the growth of culture and tourism in the country.

    Igwe Ezeh who lauded the strides of the NTDC boss at promoting domestic tourism and cultural festivals in the country, said:

    “Dr Sally Mbanefo is a blessing to Nigeria, and in particular the Nigerian tourism industry. If men and women of vision and passion for nation building like our daughter, Dr (Mrs) Sally Mbanefo are at the helms of affairs of every sector in Nigeria, the nation will not only express her appellation as the Giant of Africa, but also as the Giant of the whole world. This is because we have the resources, what we only need are men of vision and patriotism to manage the resources for the benefit of all.”

    Conferring the chieftaincy title on Dr Mbanefo, the traditional ruler said: “Mbanefo did not buy this chieftaincy title with money, rather we consider it apt for her, having considered her immense contributions to Nigeria and support for the promotion and development of Igbo culture and tradition. We pray that God almighty will continue to strengthen her and bless her with the wisdom to record a successful tenure in office, thereby propelling the movement of this nation and the Igbo communities to their respective promised land.”

    The Odogwu of Ibusa and Director, Centre for Igbo Studies of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr Tony Nwaezeigwe, who corroborated the submission of the Igbo-Ukwu monarch on the efforts Dr Mbanefo at promoting Nigeria’s tourism industry, culture and tradition enjoined the NTDC boss to make a policy that will make the Igbos understand and appreciate their culture and tradition. He lamented the increasing decline in the promotion and preservation of the Igbo culture, especially language, which he said, is in danger of going extinct.

    “Foreigners are coming to appreciate what we have, in terms of culture and heritage, hence we should never allow those inestimable virtues to go into extinction. Thus, I plead with our government to make Igbo language and history a must in the academic curricular, thereby protecting our language, culture and tradition,” Dr Nwaezeigwe submitted.

    National Chairman, Mbido Igbo Association, Mazi Okafouzu Ugochukwu appealed to Anambra State government to assist in providing infrastructures in the place, such as tarring of the road leading to the National Yam House; building of a modern pavilion at the arena; provision of a functional bus and security van to the organizers of the festival, among others.

    The corporation supported the five-day festival with a new deep freezer, a Motorcycle and a cow.

  • Keystone Bank, NTDC partner on travel market

    Keystone Bank, NTDC partner on travel market

    The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Bank, Philip Ikeazor, said the bank would partner with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to ensure successful participation in the World Travel Market slated for London this year.

    Ikeazor, who stated this when he paid a courtesy call on the Director-General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo in Abuja. He praised  her for the Corporation’s achievements in ensuring that Nigeria, which is endowed with natural and man-made tourist sites, benefits immensely from the money-spinning sector.

    Ikeazor said the appointment of Dr Mbanefo as the boss of NTDC was and intended to reposition the nation’s tourism industry, and thereby making Nigeria stand tall in the comity of tourism nations.

    The bank boss noted that ‘domestic tourism remains a viable catalyst to developing tourism in any nation, stating that Dr. Mbanefo is getting it right.

    Ikeazor pledged that the bank would build a befitting Information Desk for NTDC at the Dr Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala International Airport, Lagos.

    “We are willing to ensure that NTDC has a befitting Information Desk at the airports in Lagos and Abuja to enable the corporation further promote Nigeria and her tourist sites. NTDC has been doing wonderfully well in this course, and we are ready to support the course,” Ikeazor assured.

    Dr Mbanefo said the corporation derives its strength from the nation’s cultural tourism assets, stressing that those assets must be promoted effectively to attract those that are interested in what the body has to sell.

    She said NTDC will explore the opportunity provided by the World Travel Market to market Nigeria’s domestic tourism potentials, thereby wooing foreigners to appreciate Nigeria’s tourist sites and crowd-pulling festivals, which according to her, will empower people at the grassroots level, as well as create jobs and wealth for them.

    Dr Mbanefo reiterated her commitment to promoting domestic tourism in Nigeria, while making NTDC generate good revenue for the government.

  • Keystone Bank, NTDC partner on travel market

    the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Bank, Philip Ikeazor, said the bank would partner with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to ensure successful participation in the World Travel Market slated for London this year.

    Ikeazor, who stated this when he paid a courtesy call on the Director-General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo in Abuja. He praised  her for the Corporation’s achievements in ensuring that Nigeria, which is endowed with natural and man-made tourist sites, benefits immensely from the money-spinning sector.

    Ikeazor said the appointment of Dr Mbanefo as the boss of NTDC was and intended to reposition the nation’s tourism industry, and thereby making Nigeria stand tall in the comity of tourism nations.

    The bank boss noted that ‘domestic tourism remains a viable catalyst to developing tourism in any nation, stating that Dr. Mbanefo is getting it right.

    Ikeazor pledged that the bank would build a befitting Information Desk for NTDC at the Dr Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala International Airport, Lagos.

    “We are willing to ensure that NTDC has a befitting Information Desk at the airports in Lagos and Abuja to enable the corporation further promote Nigeria and her tourist sites. NTDC has been doing wonderfully well in this course, and we are ready to support the course,” Ikeazor assured.

    Dr Mbanefo said the corporation derives its strength from the nation’s cultural tourism assets, stressing that those assets must be promoted effectively to attract those that are interested in what the body has to sell.

    She said NTDC will explore the opportunity provided by the World Travel Market to market Nigeria’s domestic tourism potentials, thereby wooing foreigners to appreciate Nigeria’s tourist sites and crowd-pulling festivals, which according to her, will empower people at the grassroots level, as well as create jobs and wealth for them.

    Dr Mbanefo reiterated her commitment to promoting domestic tourism in Nigeria, while making NTDC generate good revenue for the government.