Red card to unregistered
tourism operators
with Frank Meke
Thursday, September
3, 2009
These are anxious times for law breakers in the socio-political
and economic sectors of Nigeria. It is also a period of sober
reflection on how to mainstream and sustain the gains derivable
from ensuring that our laws are not only strengthened but
strictly adhered to by all.
Last week, five bank chief executives where pulled of their
cozy executive seats for failing to play by the rules, that
same week, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)
also went to town to enforce rules guiding the best practices
of tourism business worldwide by closing down unregistered
hotels and related tourism enterprises. While Nigerians were
shocked at the removal of the bank Chief Executives by Central
Bank of Nigeria, the closure of hotels and related tourism
enterprises by NTDC was however seen as long overdue.
The step was long overdue because the operators have long
been given long notice to reform and register, a call which
was blatantly abused, disregarded and even promised a challenge
in the court of law. It has often been said that Nigeria is
a difficult country to rule, a nation state where dogs bark
in day and night time, where pimps and prostitutes are role
models and where there are laws yet many claims not to know
any of them by heart or sight. In other countries in Europe,
Middle East and even in Southern part of Africa, prospective
investors in tourism knows that the first step before even
putting a tourism structure on ground is to seek official
permission and registration of such an enterprises. In Nigeria
the scenario or the case is different, we build first before
registering and we employ workers without assigning portfolios
to them, Nigeria is that disorganized.
It is sad to note that Nigeria cannot and would never become
a tourism destination if we do not adhere to basic professional
practices all over the world. I pity tourism operators who
claim ignorance in order to advance a case of superior knowledge
that they can do without registration and grading of their
enterprises by Nigeria Tourism Development Cooperation (NTDC).
The famous arguments of the critics of Nigeria tourism environment
that dwelt on lack of basic infrastructures, does not and
would never justify the open disregard of the security implications
of non-registration and grading of their businesses.
It is only in Nigeria that foreigners check into hotels holding
hard to their passports, it is only in Nigeria that tourism
investors breaks into the sector without official recognition
and permit, it is only in Nigeria that tourism operators charge
clients in foreign currencies other than the Naira and it’s
only in Nigeria that a man converts his house into a hotel,
thereby making a mockery of efforts in creating a standard
feature for the sector.
I’m happy today, that, NTDC is living up to the billings
and expectations of exposed consumers and investors who desires
to see that the “Ajegunle” mentally of calling
all “shops” as hotel is put a stop to. Nigeria
cannot afford to run or operate a tourism free zone where
the “Yang”, “blackboards” or “Kofi’s”
are allowed to undermine the economic and security sectors
in Nigeria. There are no doubt that the population of Nigeria
could be interpreted positively to benefit the citizens of
this country therefore every citizen must be seen to stand
up, to support positive measures to clean our stables of cobwebs
and dirtiness.
Even though there were appreciable numbers of compliers in
the effort to register hotels and tourism enterprises in Nigeria,
the truth that must be told is that, government cannot be
practically and purposefully disposed to initiating sectorial
support for investors who wants to have it all without giving
anything back to the state. To those who should know and am
calling on state governors as stakeholders, it is important
to note that tourism business is not a zero sum game. It is
a common wealth business where both the rich and poor are
seen as beneficiaries. It is a business with potentials to
sustain development, create employment, distribute and redistribute
harvest to farmers (investors), to the people (workers) and
the government.
The case of some governors initiating unnecessary official
bottle necks and limitations to the on-going registration
of hotels and related tourism enterprises in their domain
smacks of hypocrisy and greediness. The recourse to taking
actions within the concurrent legislative environment in Nigeria
is like hiding behind a mask that would one day be removed
to expose the wearer. As for as I’m concerned, the arrangement
between the federal, state and local governments in Nigeria
to pull resources together in advancing the course of tourism
is not only strategic but a platform that would make both
the governed and the leaders to feel proud about this country.
The advantage of Nigeria being a late starter in global tourism
business should provide us opportunities to engage all concerned
in the best way to manage our tourism resources. I stand to
be challenged that Nigeria is on the march to the tourism
promise land. Segun Runsewe and his NTDC are vehicles of divine
provision to help us get our bearings right. We cannot remain
in Sodom and claim to be citizens of Goshen where light does
not go off, where dogs does not bark and cows feed on the
best manures and citizens living their lives in peace harmony
and joy. The sodomites within us must reform or be reformed
by force or fire.
The law of which every citizen of this country must stand
up to enforce must be strictly adhered to. NTDC therefore,
as the federal referee in the tourism environment must spare
no one or institution in the quest to register and grade tourism
enterprises in Nigeria. Let the conspirators in our midst
know that the era of lawlessness and total disregard to the
obedience of hospitality covenants are over. As for this column,
we shall support all efforts to create a level playing field
for all tourism investors in Nigeria. We wish to see our environment
truly transformed to a luxurious destination proudly Nigerian
Let me state for the sake of emphasis that Nigeria despite
all the so called local and international conspiracies to
brand us as haven of backwardness, remains Africa’s
number one investment attraction in tourism and related enterprises.
Having said all these, I’m also aware that Nigeria is
under hotel(ed) and to check the trend; there must be official
statistics driven by this NTDC registration efforts which
would help us to address the disadvantage. No Nigeria city
today can adequately cope with organized international or
local convention(s) pressure in the areas of hotel provisions
and facilities. Apart from helping us take appraisal of this
development, the hotel registration and grading efforts would
help us in hospitality developmental plans, distribution of
resources, manpower requirements and needs, and attraction
of international support and zoning of hospitality clusters
within and around the country.
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