Metro
Travel Writers Urge Gov Diri to Launch Endowment Fund, Master Plan, for Tourism Development
In comomeration of this year’s World Tourism Day celebrations across the globe, Chairman of Bayelsa Travel Writers’ Corps, Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, has called on Bayelsa State government to launch Bayelsa State Culture and Tourism Endowment Fund and tourism masterplan to drive the development and promotion of the tourism sector in the state, saying that “tourism is a catalyst that could be used to drive the local economy with a view to achieving the goals of sustainable peace and job creation”.
Mr Kiyaramo described the theme of the 2020 edition of World Tourism Day: “Tourism and Rural Development”, as appropriate, nothing that the unique role that tourism plays in providing opportunities outside of big cities and in preserving cultural and natural heritage all around the world, makes it an extremely labour intensive and significant source of employment for many global economies, informing that “the tourism sector therefore is not only an engine for economic growth, but also an effective tool for poverty alleviation among the marginalised segments of the society.
According to the travel journalist, tourism is one such activity which impacts also extends to various other sectors, making it responsible for creating direct and indirect employment and requiring varying degrees of skills which facilitate quick entry into the workforce for youth, women and poor.
Mr Kiyaramo, said the economic potentials of tourism, being the world’s largest and fastest growing industry, creates one in every eleven jobs, contributes to international and regional economic growth, adding that tourism would contribute to the protection of one of the oil state’s key assets, biodiversity, being a critical responsibility of all business sectors.
He said the Bayelsa Travel Writers’ Corps was ready to partner with government and other critical stakeholders to create tourism demand in the state, through well articulated marketing networks, intended to jumpstart critical economic trickle-down effect that would facilitate the growth of community based enterprises, which would lead to job creation and poverty alleviation.
The travel journalists’ chairman, stressed that in the light of the developmental challenges in the state, there was need for synergy and collaboration to expand institutional support for tourism development and promotion.
He also proposed a “One Village, One Product” pilot scheme to assist local communities in the state to discover their rich cultural tourism resource with a view to regenerating their cultural infrastructure, which will lead to social transformation and civic renewal, through various conservation initiatives for the vast ecological and cultural heritage of the state.
The tourism activist and media consultant who spoke to travel writers in Yenagoa, capital city of Bayelsa State in comomeration of this year’s World Tourism Day, reiterated the urgent need to develop the huge coastal tourism potentials in the oil rich littoral state.
He regretted that, though the state boasts of fine beaches comparable to any one in other parts of the world in addition to the rich wetlands, no attention has been paid to the huge marine tourism potentials in the area, pointing out that the state government could leverage on tourism to explore the potentials, with a view to creating job opportunities in rural communities.
Mr Kiyaramo, popularly known as “Mr Tourism in Bayelsa state”, was of the view that these fine beaches located in Koluama, Akassa, Odioma, Okpoama, Agge, Foropah and Ekeni-Ezetu, could provide huge investment opportunities in the the travel and tourism sub sector of the local economy, pointing out that the beaches in the state.
He maintained that the beaches which spread across several local governments should boast of standard hotels and marine recreational facilities to cater for the leisure needs of tourists among other tourism infrastructures that would boost the local economy.
He said Bayelsa Travel Writers’ Corps, a beat association under the Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), which comprises travel reporters, photographers, cameramen, film editors and tour guides was willing to collaborate with government to promote tourism, through the promotion of arts, crafts and festivals, including creek boat shows to create opportunities for the local populace, particularly the youth to develop talents, in order to sustain the growing peaceful atmosphere in the state.
Gunmen, on Monday, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, killed seven persons.
Reports said that out of the seven persons killed, two are unarmed civilians who were in a compound planning a burial scheduled for January 2, while the others were security operatives.
A viral video being circulated on social media showed two bodies of the victims, said to be members of the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG).
The Police command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident, said the Commissioner of Police (CP), Nnaghe Obono Itam, has ordered immediate manhunt of the assailants.
He said the incident happened at about 11.20am, adding that the attack resulted in the death of seven persons, two of them unarmed passers-by.
He said: “The Joint Security Team rescued one of the victims, who is currently responding to treatment at a hospital.
“The CP, while on an on-the-spot assessment visit to the scene, interviewed some eye witnesses of the incident. Information also had it that the armed men started shooting sporadically at a venue where preparations were going on for a burial ceremony slated for 2nd of January, 2025.
“Also, while escaping the scene, the armed men shot at two security operatives at a security Observation Post close to the Local Government Headquarters by the Express Road.”
Ikenga said the CP has extended his condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives, especially the good people of Ihiala over the tragic incident.
He further assured that the perpetrators would be hunted down.
Some officers attached to the Ogun State Police Command have been arrested for allegedly demanding money from the family of a missing girl before taking action on the case.
The Public Relations Officer for the Nigeria Police Force, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a post on X on Saturday.
Adejobi stated that they were being detained pending disciplinary action.
His post partly read: “Otta missing girl: The policemen who demanded money before they could attend to the case have been arrested and are now in detention for disciplinary action.
Adejobi further reaffirmed the command’s commitment to locating the missing girl, assuring the public that she would be found soon.
“The Ogun State Police Command has been on the case. The girl will be found as soon as possible. We also urge the family of the victim to cooperate with the police,” he added.
Adejobi had earlier warned officers against using the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s name to perpetuate fraud, advising the public to report such cases.
The Joint Task Force North West, under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, has addressed concerns about a recent military airstrike in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, clarifying that the operation targeted terrorist elements, not civilian structures.
Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, said all operations of the Task Force were guided by extensive intelligence and reconnaissance efforts.
He said these measures were designed to ensure precision and protect civilian lives, especially in actions against groups like the Lakurawa terrorist organization.
The Task Force called on the public to rely on verified information to avoid misinformation and unnecessary panic.
Abdullahi cautioned against disinformation campaigns by terrorist groups, which aim to discredit military successes and sow doubt in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.
According to the military, the areas targeted near Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa were confirmed to be associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the strikes.
The Joint Task Force, therefore, reiterated its commitment to safeguarding civilians while pursuing decisive action against threats to national security.
