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Obasanjo faults Runsewe’s removal from NTDC
Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented the sudden removal of Segun Runsewe as Director-General of Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). He described the action as inimical to sustainable tourism action plans and progressive tourism manpower development.
The former President who discovered Runsewe and appointed him to turn around and reposition Nigeria tourism, noted that the removal of Runsewe by Jonathan regime in 2013 was a strong indication that Nigeria is not serious with tourism development and cannot be trusted to make serious impact on the Local and International scene as a destination.
Visibly disturbed and commenting on major tourism issues since he left office about ten years ago, the former President whose administration was noted for creating a stand-alone Ministry of Tourism and also powered the Abuja carnival, tourism Master plan and Presidential Council on Tourism, wondered aloud if Nigeria truly appreciates the negative narratives Runsewe removal brought to Nigeria’s global tourism image.
He asked, “So, what has happened to Nigeria’s tourism since 2013 when they removed him (Runsewe)? Has anything worthwhile changed, is it not worse for us now? “Obasanjo retorted in an exclusive interview with NANTA Television as part of the sideline engagement with the executive members of National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) who paid him a visit.
The former President Obasanjo explained that Nigeria’s failings in tourism is due to lack of continuity in policies and also not putting the right people at the right place, suggesting and imploring NANTA to occupy the Nigeria tourism space and strive to bring players in tourism, travel, hospitality, aviation and entertainment to one table to fashion out a frame work that would provide win-win benefits to all concerned.
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