The Federal Government has appointed former commissioner of tourism and culture Lagos state, Folorunsho Folarin Coker as Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC.
Folarin who was sacked by Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Abode in November 2016 became the 5th director general appointed by the federal government for the agency after 4 previous appointments made by the government in four months.
Coker replaces Paul Adalikwu who was recently appointed as the DG in acting capacity.
According to Nigerianfranknews, Folarin Coker who was earlier appointed as the new director general of the National Film and Video Censors Board was moved to NTDC.
Coker was honoured late last year by the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, NANTA with Tourism Legacy Award 2016 for introducing the unique one Lagos brand event which helped in re-positioning Lagos in the area of tourism development within his short stay in office among other laudable initiatives.
Before the appointment of Coker, four other DGs had earlier been appointed in acting capacity.
According to atqnews.com, Mr. Adalikwu took over the helms following the removal of Mrs. Mariel Rae-Omoh as the Acting Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).
This step came as a shock to both tourism stakeholders and travel and tourism experts who demanded the appointment of an industry Stakeholder to salvage the collapsing industry.
Mr. Boniface Ebuka was first appointed into the position following the sack of the former DG, Mrs. Sally Uwechue – Mbanefo by the federal government. Then Rae-Omoh and now Mr. Paul Adalikwu.
This appointment confirms the rumours among stakeholders that the Minister has favoured Adalikwu to be the Substantive DG. Dr. Adalikwu has been embroiled in controversy with the Tourism Intervention fund called the Sure P funds under President Jonathan.
The alleged abuse of huge sums of money led the former Minister Edem Duke to get him removed as Sure P officer and sent to Ministry of Labour.
NTDC DG has become some sort of banana peel since Otunba Runsewe was removed since 2012.
Sally Mbanefo was appointed and removed before completing her tenure. Boniface Ebuka was appointed and removed after 2 months and replaced by Rae Omoh in controversial circumstances.
27th November 2016 saw the sack of the former Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo.
In her place, a supposedly Most senior Director Eboka was appointed. Later he was dropped because it was said he was not the most senior Director. Mariel Rae Omoh was appointed and soon fell into controversy over her appointment as a Director. It was alleged that she was erroneously promoted based on certificate issues.
