Metro
Expert Decries Huge Potential losses of Tourism Sector to Insecurity
A tourism expert, Dr Samuel Eremie, has decried the huge potential loss to the Nigerian tourism sector, as a result of the insecurity bedevilling some parts of the country.The tourism development expert stated this in a chat with newsmen on Sunday, in Abuja, at the launching of a book he authored entitled “Adventures in Development Tourism”.
He said that the tourism potentials of a country like Nigeria was quite huge, but unfortunately it had become a missed opportunity as a result of insecurity which, he said, had scared tourists away. According to him, security was a major requirement for a tourism industry to thrive and that Nigeria lacked this at the moment starting from the ocean to the desert.“There is so much insecurity and even opportunities for tourism that used to abound in this country drawing people from different parts of the country and the world, appeared to have all disappeared mainly because of the insecurity we are facing.“Nigeria could earn a lot of dollars from foreigners, if they had assurance of their safety, if they go out towards the Atlantic ocean with local fishermen and stayed in fishing villages, where these fishermen dwell.“Nigeria could earn quite a lot from tourism, we saw that played out in places like Kenya, where communities will host tourists, they go to the village and share the lives and experiences of those villagers and they had money.“This is why country’s like Kenya are promoting tourism, it is the second largest foreign exchange earner of that country. If you don’t have security, nobody will be ready to spend his money in places that are not safe,” he said.Eremie, who was a former Agricultural coordinator of the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), noted that some tourist attractions like Osun Osogbo and Obudu cattle ranch could not attract due to insecurity.He further said that if not for the support of international development partners, Nigeria’s plan for agricultural drive could have been at the bottom.The expert said that Nigeria may not be the best in terms of harnessing and managing its resources for agricultural development, but there was need to stir up these sectors for the overall development of the country.He called on Nigerian authorities to emulate India, who started small in its agricultural drive with the assistance of the World Bank, to strive hard for the development of its tourism and agricultural sector.Eremie noted that India quickly learnt a lesson to exploit its agricultural sector potentials to develop the country, adding that Nigeria must also learn lessons from the mistakes of the past.He stated that the book, adventures in development tourism, does not only address the problems in the tourism sector, but also documents experiences of people in development organisations who worked on the field.NewsMen reports that “Adventures in Development Tourism” is divided into six parts and has over 300 pages, which dealt with tourism and agricultural issues. (NAN)
The Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission has begun the regularisation of staff appointments in the FCT Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
The Head of the Civilo Service, Dr Udo Atang, said at the commencement of the exercise in Abuja on Wednesday, that the move was to ensure accurate data of all staff.
Atang described the regularisation as a “critical” exercise, which forms the bedrock of the new FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC).
He pointed out that all the staff were holding letters of appointments from various agencies, departments, area councils, and the defunct Ministry of FCT and FCDA among others.
The holders of these letters, he said, have been raising issues of discrimination based on letters of appointment.
According to him, the exercise and the gazette by the commission that will come thereafter, will give all staff a sense of identity.
“The essence of this regularisation is to ensure that staff are properly documented.
“You will now have letters that will now qualify you as a bonafide staff of the FCT Civil Service Commission.”
The head of service, who appealed for full cooperation of the workers, directed that a list of all staff on course, study leave, leave of absence and other related permissions be compiled and submitted.
He added that the list should be compiled with grade level, designation and record of service, including approvals.
Atang commended the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, for his doggedness and commitment in implementing the provisions of the FCT CSC Act, 2018.
Noting Wike’s support and love for the FCT workers, the head of service urged the workers to reciprocate the minister’s uncommon gesture, by being dedicated and committed to their respective duties.
Also speaking, the Chairman, FCT CSC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, stressed that part of the responsibilities of the commission was in the appointment, promotion and discipline of all FCTA and FCDA workers.
Ezeh also stressed the need for the workers to be more committed in the discharge of their responsibilities. (NAN)
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria (CWON) has organized a trauma healing session for survivors of the Jos Saint Academy School collapse alongside parents who lost their children in the unfortunate incident.The National President of the organization, Dame Mary Gonzum noted that the effort was part of their psychosocial support and counseling services for victims of the school building collapse as a follow-up to the assessment of the condition of the victims during their visit.
Gonzum speaking during a one day trauma session held at the Secretariat of the Justice Development and Peace/Caritas Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese located along Zaria Road in Jos the Plateau State capital said the trauma healing session was in continuation of their intervention to students who experienced the building collapsed.”Today, a trauma healing session was flagged off with a seminar on how to go about handling the trauma that victims of the Saint Academy School Busa Buji in Jos are passing through.”We will later select those that are so traumatic and need help to continue with the process of healing because it is not something that will end in a day or two but will need sometime.”The surviving students who experienced the building collapsed, parents of the students are all here because some parents are so traumatic, we have one other woman that lost two children”This trauma became necessary because when we went visiting in the hospitals, we observed that some of them are really traumatic. Like the other boy, his mother said up till today he kept telling his mother that he is seeing dead bodies, and anybody he sees he will say is his classmate.”Some of the affected parents while sharing their encounters after the incident said they hardly sleep in the day or night time. Some manage to sleep for two hours and they’re awake, and from the little lectures we received today it is clear that there is a problem,” She noted.The President calls on the government to ensure that those saddled with the responsibility of approving, inspecting and supervising structures are meant to do their job with all diligence to avert future happenings again.Some of the affected parents including; Hasana Suleman Sale who lost two of her children recalled with pains the unfortunate development that claimed the lives of her two children. She expressed gratitude for the trauma healing session which she said came as a means of consolation and strength for her to overcome the trauma she is passing through.
The Catholic Church in Nigeria has welcomed the newly-appointed Apostolic to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty.
Crotty, an Irish, was appointed by the Vatican.
He will oversee the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the church in Nigeria.
The position, an ambassadorial status, advances cohesion in the body of Christ.
In his welcome message for Crotty on Tuesday, the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, said that the Church was glad to receive him.
The CBCN president, who is also the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, said,” With joy and gratitude to God, I extend a hearty welcome to Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, clergy, religious and lay faithful in Nigeria.
“We are thankful to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for appointing Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria to build on the good works of his predecessor, Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi.
“His appointment is a testament to the strong spiritual bond between our countries,” he said.
He said that although Crotty was the first Apostolic Nuncio from Ireland to serve in Nigeria, many Irish missionaries had played significant roles in spreading the gospel in Nigeria.
“We appreciate Archbishop Crotty’s acceptance of serving in Nigeria and assure him of our full support and cooperation.
“We pray for a fruitful mission and a blessed tenure for our excellency,” he added. (NAN)
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