The Director – General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, and Mrs. Sally Uwechue – Mbanefo has slammed the oil and gas companies in Nigeria for their gross neglect and abuse of Oloibiri -the first place where oil was struck in Nigeria as observed from her recent domestic tourism asset authentication visit to Yenogoa, Bayesla State recently.
Mrs. Mbanefo who was a Special Guest of Honour at the public presentation of “ Memories of the Niger Delta Slave Routes “ , a book published by Centre for Promotion of Peace , Tourism , Arts and Culture , ( CEPTAC) in association with River State Ministry of Culture and Tourism at the Hotel Presidential , Port Harcourt, on Thursday 5 December 2013 pointed out that “ this major beneficiaries of the largesse of tourism activities have deliberately or otherwise refused to contribute to the development of tourism in Nigeria “Mrs. Mbanefo pointed out that “ It is sad that none of the oil majors which make and declare billions of dollars profits every year in Nigeria has thought it right to consider the enhancement of Oloibiri into a befitting site where tourists and historians will love to visit“
She pointed out that “it is a crime on the part of the oil companies against Nigeria and the tourism sector to have forsaken and abandoned the very source, origin and beginning of their lucrative business. I felt very bad at the parlous state of Oloibiri with its weather beaten
old hand rig which is supposed to be kept, preserved and conserved for this generation and generations yet unborn. “Mrs. Mbanefo pointed out that “ the oil companies have been unfair to the tourism sector which daily facilitates, lubricates and ensure that they are in business by keeping the major types of transportation busy through patronages and servicing “She said “How will the oil majors continue to make big profit every year if the tourism sector decide to shut down activities or slow down in its fast tempo of posturing? How will the oil companies make good business if many people stay at their areas of domicile without
patronizing those units which consume oil for operatiion? Can‘t we all appreciate the import of tourism as a symbiotic appendage to oil sector- see how prices drop whenever there is crises or chaos on the global scene?
She said the time has come for the oil companies to make a bold statement in the tourism sector by enhancing the status of Oloibiri where the first oil was struck in Yenogoa. The origin of the existence of the oil and gas sector by being more forthcoming at contributing to the development of tourism Mrs. Mbanefo assured the stakeholders at the forum that the NTDC has repositioned itself properly to address the inequalities and maladjustment that has been inflicting the sector “ We have determined this time around at ensuring the enlisting and
engaging of all necessary hands on deck at making domestic tourism thrive, grow and blossom for the benefits of Nigeria . The oil companies will not be excluded “.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
LEFT-RIGHT: National President Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed Malan, Director General , Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, President , CEPTAC, Chief Dr. Mike S. Amachree, JP, Onyoma Research, Niger- Delta History, Culture, Environment and Community Development, Emeritus Professor E. J Alagoa, Perm Sec. Ministry of Culture & Tourism , Port-Harcourt, Mrs Grace Akpughunum-Okwulehie, Amayanabo of Twom-Brass, HRM, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, President, La Campague Tropicana , H.E Wanle Akinboboye during the unveiling of “ Memories of the Niger Delta Slave Routes “ a book published by the Centre for Promotion of Peace , Tourism , Arts and Culture , ( CEPTAC) in association with River State Ministry of Culture and Tourism recently at the Hotel Presidential , Port Harcourt, River State.
LEFT-RIGHT: National President Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed Malan, Director General , Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, Amayanabo of Twom-Brass, HRM, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, President , CEPTAC, Chief Dr. Mike S. Amachree, JP in a dialogue during the public presentation of Memories of the Niger Delta Slave Routes published by the Centre for Promotion of Peace , Tourism , Arts and Culture , ( CEPTAC) in association with River State Ministry of Culture and Tourism recently at the Hotel Presidential , Port Harcourt, River State.
The Director General , Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs. Sally Mbanefo receiving her award from the President , CEPTAC, Chief Dr. Mike S. Amachree, JP during the public presentation of Memories of the Niger Delta Slave Routes published by the Centre for Promotion of Peace , Tourism , Arts and Culture , ( CEPTAC) in association with River State Ministry of Culture and Tourism recently at the Hotel Presidential , Port Harcourt, River State.
LEFT-RIGHT: The President , CEPTAC, Chief Dr. Mike S. Amachree, JP with the awardees, Director General , Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, President, La Campague Tropicana , H.E Wanle Akinboboye, Amayanabo of Twom-Brass, HRM, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, expressing appreciation after the presentation of the awards during the public presentation of Memories of the Niger Delta Slave Routes
published by Centre for Promotion of Peace , Tourism , Arts and Culture , ( CEPTAC) in association with River State Ministry of Culture and Tourism recently at the Hotel Presidential , Port Harcourt, River State.
