Personality in Focus
Opinion: Reaction to NTDA Bill and Board Composition
By Martins Osagie
There are serious exceptions to many aspects of the new NTDA Bill recently signed into law by the President. One singular character that is absolutely perverse about the Bill is that it is devoid of any sense of ownership or inclusion of the Private Sector Tourism Stakeholders’ interests. It purely emanates from the selfish interest of bureaucrats or tourism administrators, along with parliamentarians, whose penchant are forever fixated with creating Establishments for growing the bureaucracy for appointing cronies; then harvesting the inevitably padded budgets, and the clandestine thoughts of how to fleece the fledgling private sector tourism businesses.
From the thoughts of our ace travel writer, Frank Meke, the conversion of the acronym ‘’Tourism Corporation’’ to ‘’Tourism Authority’’, might as well be a clever ploy to circumvent the Supreme Court judgement that expressly puts tourism under the concurrent legislative schedule of States. As if to seek tacit cooperation of the States in this subterfuge, there is an offer of an alliance for a common purpose as to create fresh inroads into the seeming fertile turfs of State Governments. To even choose the acronym: ‘’Authority’’, is an irony, because as against the common use of that word, our Tourism Administrators hardly dispense any real value to the private sector, in spite of the humongous budgets they arrogate to themselves. The recent Covid19 palliatives that was dangled before distraught tourism practitioners, without eventual succour, is a case in point. The State Governments could easily fall for this scam as willing allies in a bid to form an easy cartel for emasculating the struggling private sector practitioners. We should expect that the Constitutional Courts will be engaged sooner for the needed legal fireworks.
In the case of the NIHOTORS Bill, it has been reasoned that if the NBA of legal practitioners, the ICAN/ANAN of accounting practitioners, the NMA of medical practitioners, the NIM of Management practitioners and many other such professional bodies can register and regulate their members as regards their own practice, why should the Federal Government continue to maintain budget guzzling agencies to regulate Tourism practitioners – a profession in which they have never proven themselves to be well grounded. Even the Hospitality and Tourism Institutes run by NIHOTORS can be outsourced more efficiently to the Private Sector if the debt ridden federal government is ready to reduce the cost of governance.
In conclusion, if the aim of these Bills is to create optimal synergy between the Public and Private Sectors in tourism, they should take full cognisance of the interests of the Private Sector practitioners who are the investors navigating the rough professional terrain, rather than the way these Bills were passed through Hearings without noting or accommodating the private practitioners’ interests. In which case, such Bills ought to be jointly sponsored by both Sectors, if they are not to be designed as one-sided, or exploitative of one party.
Core tourism stakeholders, especially the legacy associations (ATPN, NANTA and NHA), have been anxious alb initio about the composition of the NTDC Board in the Draft Bill, as it did not consist of a balanced representation of tourism experts and core stakeholders. It is more of those performing purely ancillary services like Immigration, Customs, Finance, etc, that are favoured in the Bill. It was opined that when politicians are added to this equation of intended statutory public service members, what will be left for tourism representation is of such marginal consequence as to render the Board technically a lame duck.
Most of those being proposed for this supposed “Tourism Development” Board properly belong to a Tourism Facilitation Committee. A truly tourism development Board should have a preponderance of the Tourism Legacy Associations (ATPN, NANTA and NHA) who have been recognized since the onset of the development of the industry in Nigeria and as reflected in the previous Act. From the new composition of the Board, the majority of its members will be mere bench warmers and invariably end up with the effect of jumping from the frying pan to fire, by being worse than the Act it came to supplant.
A Tourism Board that cannot decode the knowledge gaps that account for the long stagnation of the Tourism industry in Nigeria can only be considered dead on arrival, and, like many others, be invariably consigned to irrelevance. In conclusion, the Board of NTDA, as a developmental agency, should rightly be composed of more professional industry stakeholders in the Real Sector (as represented by the legacy associations) and the technical experts who can decode the accumulated issues of performance deficits that bestride the industry, rather than swarming it with representatives of ancillary Public Service Agencies and politicians. The former NTDC Act should not be substituted with any discretionary Board composition except to further co-opt those with the technical skills to salvage the Sector from the unmitigated inertia occasioned by subsuming Tourism under a non-business oriented Department.
Martins Osagie, a tourism practitioner, writes
from ATPN Benin, Edo state
The Chairman/CEO of Adron Group, who is also Otun Akile of Remoland, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, has joined well-wishers across Remoland and beyond to celebrate the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, His Royal Majesty Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, Torungbuwa II, as he marks his 63rd birthday.
In his heartfelt tribute, Aare Emmanuelking described the Akarigbo as a ruler whose life radiates uncommon wisdom, authenticity, and grace. He noted that under Oba Ajayi’s steady and visionary leadership, the Remo Kingdom has continued to flourish, earning him the admiration of his people and respect across Yoruba land.
He praised the monarch’s intellectual brilliance, humility, and deep compassion, qualities he described as central to the Akarigbo’s enduring impact. “Your Majesty’s wisdom illuminates minds, your presence uplifts hearts, and your life exemplifies the harmony of intellect, humility, and grace,” Aare Emmanuelking stated.
He further highlighted that Akarigbo’s reign has been one of dignity, intention, and positive transformation. According to him, it is the character of the man behind the crown that truly endears Oba Ajayi to the people, noting that his counsel often “creates ripples of influence far beyond the palace walls.”
As Kabiyesi marks his 63rd year, Aare Emmanuelking offered prayers for continued good health, peace, joy, and divine wisdom, expressing confidence that the monarch’s legacy of service and enlightenment will continue to guide future generations.
Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, who ascended the throne in 2017, is widely regarded as a progressive and community-focused leader, one whose modern, people-centric approach has strengthened unity and development across Remoland.
The Nigerian Senate has confirmed General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the country’s new Minister of Defence.
The announcement was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.
Musa, who retired from the military just 40 days ago, was nominated by President Tinubu on Tuesday to succeed former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds.
According to Onanuga’s statement, the Senate approved Musa’s appointment on Wednesday through a voice vote, following a thorough screening session during which lawmakers posed numerous questions.
“Senate confirms Gen. Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence The Senate has confirmed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the Minister of Defence. The Senate confirmed Musa on Wednesday via a voice vote after a rigorous screening session in which lawmakers asked him many questions,” the statement read in part.
Personality in Focus
CM Shehu Mohammed Lauds NAOSNP over 2025 Road Safety Champion Award, Hails Staff
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mallam Shehu Mohammed has won the 2025 Road Safety Champion Awards instituted by the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) at the National Conference/Awards held recently in Lagos, in recognition of his aggressive transformation agenda in road transportation safety and commitment to championing the campaign for safer road environment in Nigeria through the FRSC platform.
In his remarks at the event, the National President of NAOSNP, Mayor Oki Samson emphasized the growing responsibility of the media—particularly online security news outlets in shaping public understanding and national resilience in an era marked by complex security threats, misinformation, and rapid technological changes. Mayor Oki underscored the vital role of the press in national security discourse and called for deeper collaboration between media and security agencies to ensure accurate, timely, and responsible reporting.
According to him, the event represents not just a dialogue, but a critical partnership between those who safeguard the nation and those that shape public opinions, stressing the need for harmony that could present national understanding, cohesion and development. He called on the award winners to continue to discharge their national responsibilities with greater zeal and patriotism, noting that building and safeguarding a nation requires robust collaboration and partnerships between stakeholders.
In his Keynote address, the the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, who was represented by Air Vice Marshal Bashir Rimi Mamman underscored the critical interplay between security, governance, and national development. His called for unity, responsible journalism, and collective action to secure Nigeria’s future. “This event serves as a platform for reinforcing the media’s role in national security and commitment to safeguarding the nation,” he stated.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 2 Lagos, Adegoke Fayoade, who spoke on the theme of the conference, positioned security as a foundational enabler of economic development and resource safeguarding in Nigeria, saying the two must always harmonize to produce credible results for national security and development agenda.
With the theme “Securing and Safeguarding Nigeria’s Economic Resources,” AIG Fayoade’s messages highlighted the necessity of aligning security operations with economic priorities, leveraging identity and information systems, partnering across sectors, and ensuring ethical, capable, forward‑looking security institutions. Such an approach, he said, recognises that economic resources whether tangible (infrastructure, commodities, ports) or intangible (identity systems, revenue flows, investor confidence) require integrated, multi‑dimensional protection.
”As Nigeria continues to aim for growth, investment, and resource optimisation, the link between security and economy remains central,” the AIG submitted.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed of the FRSC whose award was received on his behalf by the Sector Commander of Lagos State Sector Command of the FRSC, Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, reiterated that every movement starts and ends on the road. He stressed that transportation is a critical aspect of Nigeria’s infrastructure and plays a vital role in connecting people, goods and services across the country.Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed further noted that Road Traffic Crashes are the major factors contributing to disruptions in the supply chains and increase in operational costs for the transport sector.
While emphasizing the role of stakeholders in national security and development efforts, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed gave assurances that FRSC as an agency of the Federal Government charged with the lead agency responsibility of ensuring road traffic management and safety administration in the country will effectively enforce relevant reforms in transportation safety laws as government at all levels is geared toward investing more in infrastructure and combating corruption in the system.
The FRSC Boss further called on the media to continue to raise public awareness on issues of road safety, hold people accountable and disseminate information most professionally to build trust and ensure integrity of their reportage, dedicating the award to the hardworking personnel of the FRSC.
In attendance at the event which also saw the award of NAOSNP “Best Security Agency Spokesperson of the Year” to the FRSC Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide
were representative of the former Chief of Defence Staff; representative of the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam; the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Lagos, Adegoke Fayoade and the representative of the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi among security and other agencies.
It is worthy of note that NAOSNP National Security Conference/Awards has over the years become the largest media-organized security conference, gathering top public and private stakeholders in Nigeria’s security architecture.
