By Ikechi Uko
It was Dr. Mubo Eniola that said in the 1990s that “Tourism is an Orphan in Nigeria”. That statement has been true even up until now. Former President Obasanjo acted for some time as a foster father.
He created a ministry of Culture and Tourism. He appointed good Ministers and monitored them. The best Minister of Tourism Nigeria ever had Ambassador Franklin Ogbuewu launched the Tourism Masterplan.
He started the “Harmattan Season” as the Tourism months for Nigeria that all tourism events should start in November with the onset of Harmattan. This idea led to the launch of Abuja Carnival in November, Carnival Calabar in December.
President Obasanjo started the Presidential Council for Tourism, PCT that led to the coordination that led to renewal of Obudu Mountain Resort and Yankari Game Reserve by the State Governors.
But after President Obasanjo foster period, tourism was expelled from the care center and abandoned again.
In 2015 the Ministry was scrapped and merged with Information Ministry. Then suddenly a new Ministry was created last year.
The new Minister of Tourism, Mrs Lola Ade-John has recently become visible across the Nation. She has been missing in action for Months. It was rumoured that she was ill and had to travel for treatment. Throughout last year the ministry was without a visible head.
When the ministry was created, I was not among those celebrating. I was wondering how you break up one ministry into three ministries. I personally felt that Tourism and Culture should be together. But what do I know.
During the absence of the Tourism Minister, the two other Ministries of Information and that of Culture, Arts and Creative Economy took over the available offices, the budget and facilities.
So today the Ministry of Tourism is squatting at NIHOTOUR a Tourism parastatal. They have no cars, they have no budget. The new Ministry is now officially an orphan too. Lol.
They say if life gives you a lemon try and make lemonades with them.
We have a new Ministry so we must make it work. IT IS THE DUTY OF EVERY TOURISM PROFESSIONAL TO MAKE THIS MINISTRY WORK AND SURVIVE.
Even if I am not impressed with the current situation, I will give the Minister all the support she needs to succeed. If she succeeds, then we have something to celebrate. It is too early to criticize her. We have to give her advice, watch and guide her. If she fails after one year then we can say she failed.
Those with personal agenda should allow her make mistakes or succeed. Criticizing her within her first 3 active months reveals a sinister agenda but what do you expect?
The industry has been bedevilled by noisemakers, agitators and activists with no known tourism products. Only hype, threats and positioning. A cesspit of toxicity.
Serpents will always be Serpentine in behavior and pipes will always be played by both paid and unpaid Pipers. ‘All na wash’.
Tourism now has an opportunity to build itself. If the President in his wisdom has created a new Ministry and appointed a Minister it is our Job to make it work.
