Association calls for establishment of Tourism Police

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Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture

Alhaji Saleh Rabo, National President of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has called for the establishment of the Tourism Police, to ensure the safety of tourists in the country.

Rabo made the call during his welcome address at the 21st FTAN’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

FTAN is the national umbrella for all operators in the tourism sector in the country.

The theme of the meeting is “Developing Sustainable Tourism through Sustainable and Security’’.

“It is no longer news that there is issue of insecurity in Nigeria especially at tourism destinations where our members operate.

“While the national debate for state police is ongoing, we recommend that Federal Government should consider the establishment of Tourism Police at major tourist destinations in Nigeria.

“This will help checkmate insecurity at the sites and assure tourists of safety as they patronise those sites.

“Most international tourist destinations, such as Turkey and Kenya which have entrenched Tourism Police structure have been able to ameliorate attacks on visitors and tourist, thereby gaining the confidence of tourist source markets.

“FTAN is willing to and prepare to provide basic training for such Tourism Police Detachment in area of tourism operations and visitor management as they pertain to tourism in Nigeria,’’ Rabo said.

The FTAN president also called for a standalone Ministry of Tourism to ensure adequate commitment to the sector.

According to him, the Minister of Information and Culture has been grossly engage in national information issues at the expense of tourism development in the country.

“The Minister if Information and Culture is always engage in other activities; having a standalone Ministry of Tourism to concentrate on tourism will go a long way to enhance effective development of the sector.’’

Rabo explained that the inspite of the many challenges, the one year executive has been able to move the association forward in tourism related activities.

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He said that the improved structure and process the executive introduced at the FTAN Secretariat was evident in the commendable level of participation at the last UNWTO/CAF event in Abuja.

“Nevertheless, we are not resting on our oars; we are committed to continually being pragmatic and to evolve innovative ways of fulfilling the mandate you gave us.

“Going forward, we seek your active support, as we explore new frontiers. Essentially, we want to engage some national and international funding organisation to secure grants or investment funds,’’ Rabo said.

Speaking earlier the Chairman of FTAN’s Board of Trustees, Chief Samuel Alabi commended Rabo and his executive members on their first year in office.

Alabi who was represented by Alhaji Munzali Dantata, a former President of FTAN said that the association has come a long way in representing those who are directly involve in the tourism sector.

“We pray that our country will overcome the challenges we are facing today and attain peace, not for only tourism but the generality of all Nigerians’’.

Similarly, Mrs Patricia Narai, a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Information and Cultures called on FTAN to work closely with the Ministry.

She said there was the need to collaborate with relevant stakeholders like the National Bureau of Statistic, National Population Commission, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation and others to achieve effective tourism data base in the country.

Narai also admonished members of FTAN to be up to date in their financial obligation to the association to move it to the next level.

In his goodwill message, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture stressed that tourism has the capacity to employ millions of Nigerians.

He said there was the need to have a central system of tourism administration in the country.

“We need to get it right. The fact that other country are doing better in tourism does not mean they are better than us, but because we refuse to do the right thing’’.

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