Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has condemned the removal Segun Runsewe as the Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), and described the action as an act inimical to sustainable tourism action plans and
The former President who discovered Runsewe and appointed him to turn around and reposition Nigeria tourism, noted that the removal of Runsewe by Jonathan regime in 2013 was a strong indication that Nigeria was not serious with tourism development and could not be trusted to make serious impact on the local and international scene as a destination.
Obasanjo who seemed disposed to tourism development and promoted the sector when he was President, created the Ministry of Tourism and powered the Abuja carnival, tourism Master plan and Presidential Council on Tourism.
He expressed dissatisfaction with what is happening to the tourism sector since he left office almost 10 years ago and said the removal of Runsewe retrograded Nigeria’s global tourism image.
“So what has happened to Nigeria’s tourism since 2013 when they removed him (Runsewe)? Has anything worthwhile changed, is it not worse for us now?” Obansanjo asked while fielding questions from journalists of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA).
The former President Obasanjo explained that Nigeria’s failing in tourism was due to lack of continuity in policies and also not putting the right people at the right places.
