Expectedly, there will be concerns about the "delay"
in the delivery architecture, yet some us pretend that government business is a
man show but a process, webbed in lengthy and sometimes, clear frame works.
This government is consistent and conscious of
fulfilling promises and methodically follow laid procedure. Nobody, not the
minister or any government official saddled with the responsibility of meeting
the people need will attempt to bye pass rules of engagement just to please the
multitude.
The same people that hails government intervention
effort, would be the first to visit the reality of such process with a basket
of suspicion and accusations.
Am sufficiently aware that every one associated with
the project is aware of the baying the multitude who are also clearly divided and captured in
mundane interpretations.
Yes, the palliatives Committee had submitted its
report, yes the minister had received the report and we soon forgot that there
are lines of resources sharing, security analysis of the report and discreet
findings to justify the existence of listed beneficiaries and the losses and
gains therein.
These findings takes time and in a government noted
with championing anti corruption
crusade, there is need to tidy up its submissions and arrive at what will benefit creative and
tourism Industry operators and generate their economic turn around and eventual
survival.
As the case maybe, it is not a gamble but an uncommon show of commitment
for the presidency and the minister to show and extend their hands of support
to the industry in this trying times.
Indeed, it is not out of place to believe that the
promised palliatives will come but my fear and that of the few decerning
observers and operators, is that the industry maybe fractured more than ever before instead of
being healed by the intervention. You don't need Nostradamus to believe the
reality, hence the need to trade carefully.
That fear possibly influenced the earlier attempt by
the minister to bye pass mainstream tourism associations and it's few credible leaders to float a
Committee to drive the intervention.
That minister
lai Mohammed changed his mind and reconstituted the Committee, is not because of the unintelligent noise
from some merchants of divisiveness but due to the strategic planning and
response to the need to have an inclusive, credible gathering of influencers in
the sector.
Needless to recount the process and eventual national
and international response to get the industry a mention and acceptability, the
gratitude to the Minister's right choice in otunba Segun Runsewe, Director
General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), to drive the
intervention.
Except there are certain sections of our grouping which may have clandestine
agenda, thereby denying the very first successful effort in the history of
tourism in Nigeria, to bring to table all shades of opinion in the mainstream
tourism and it's various rich value chain together.
It is huge gain, a template that has brought to fore
the need for data on who we are and what we do in the sector in Nigeria, not
excluding the first ever impact assessment of the sector to the socioeconomic
and Cultural development of Nigeria.
Money in whatever form is very good but we forget too
soon that minister lai Mohammed and Otunba Segun Runsewe has happened on us
critical indices, baseline and
verifiable data for national mobilization for the growth of the sector.
For long, this same industry has approached its
expectations and interventions in the most disorganized manner. We lacked the
lobby power and has no statistics of gains and challenges, neither a data
records of organizations and persons making meaningful efforts to create jobs
and sustain same.
In other words, we play to gallery, disorganized and
lack any formal intelligence gathering group or Committee that will stand for
one and for all.
In my years of documentation of people and the industry, we had always
enthroned actors and actresses of deception to lead and speak for us. We have
examples of the munzali Dantata' s, Edem Duke's who brought us low ratings than
" outsiders" that came to guide us.
Before now, industry was seen as place to present bogus
papers at workshops, write copious proposals and create conduit pipes of
surrealistic dreams and visitations.
Instead of studied and science driven statistics and
projections, our people create illusions to steal us blind. Our palliatives
will come in good time and will be distributed transparently to the growth of
the sector and to the peace of mind of genuine operators and to displeasure of the portfolio interests.
I can imagine the haste, the suspension and gathering
of the Hawks, yet they forget government knows our very first eleven and those
who have stood firm, lost everything to this pandemic.
It is a foolish person that can be gourded to take steps that can sink him or
her because of individuals and groups who comes to the table of national
development with deception and greed.
These are those stoking the current" disoriented
and barking" noise. I just wonder the day we can truly and intelligently
decode challenges before us and approach issues with detailed intelligence
gathering mechanism.
Today, three months after, we slavish for the
palliatives because one of our mainstream organised body, National Association
of Nigerian Travel Agencies ( nanta) jump started what we are expecting to
happen.
Nobody has taken the trouble to find out how nanta did
it, how they worked and lobbyed through its structured environment and
institutional architecture to get their members the needed respite and
government care. What nanta got is not even enough to go around yet they held
their heads in integrity and passion to serve all, even the Judas in their
midsts.
Like mobs we are, we jump into any available poisonous
vehicle, chanting and creating
atmosphere of suspensions where there is none.
When shall we change our ways and partner with
government, other stakeholders and even within ourselves to change the tourism
narrative.? On the issue under discuss, it is not out of place for right
thinking and progressive individuals to gather strength and go behind the open
discordant tones, visit the minister, the CBN, the national assembly Committees
and Otunba Segun Runsewe to seek insight on the delay to our palliatives
promises.
Rather than
gather a rag tag army of questionable abilities and interests to build coalition against the minister and
others who may help us at end the day,
it is not too late in the day, to
approach our palliatives matter with intelligence, wisdom and humility. We must not in any way antagonise, suspect
and insult those saddled with the responsibility to help us find our footings
and drive.
Certainly, delay to any effort, project and dreams is
not a denial. We must however, wait out the arrival of our palliatives with
common sense, perseverance, trust and regular exchange of ideas and
information. May God give us wisdom.
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