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Expert Harps On Harnessing Tourism For Revenue

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Rivers State lawmakers voting to pass the N104.2 billion Supplementary Budget in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Rivers State lawmakers voting to pass the N104.2 billion Supplementary Budget in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

A tourism expert, Mr
Johnpaul Ezeani has said that proper harnessing of community-based tourism (CBT) would help to generate income that can lead to economic development in the communities.
Ezeani who is a tourism consultant told newsmen in Abuja said that such moves would also alleviate poverty, as well as create employment that would increase tax paid by workers.
He noted that harnessing both the natural and cultural tourism potential would bring about sustainable tourism development in the communities.
He also said that the high level of poverty which remains a major problem in achieving millennium development goals could be tackled by the additional income generated by the sector.
“ The decisions about tourism activities and development must be driven by the host community.’’
He said that no country of the world today could afford to reject the significance of tourism to its economic, social, political and cultural development.
“Countries of the world have become aware of the numerous benefits accruing from tourism and are working more than ever before to develop the industry.
“Tourism accounts for the largest volume of migration of people all year round and unlike in other industries, tourism industry takes the customer to the product, rather than the product to the customer.’’
Ezeani said that CBT had a unique potential to carry investment directly to the local level and make significant contribution to rural development.
“ CBT can help to boost agricultural and social development and ensure community enrichment. “It is a type of tourism in which local communities invite tourists to their communities, having provided overnight accommodation and other facilities for the expected visitors.
“Tourists come in contact with the local habitat and wildlife, participate in different cultural festivals and enjoy the traditions and cultures of host communities.
“This type of tourism aims to upgrade the living standard of the local residents as well as generate revenue through community initiatives and/or self development projects.
“Such projects like construction of bridges, roads and town halls and rural electrification, sign posts/road signs, among others,’’ he said.
Ezeani said that it was natural that income generated from tourism was used to conserve the resources of nature as well as renovate and build new facilities to consistently encourage increased tourist influx.
“Part of the income generated should be set aside for projects which will provide benefits to the community, maintain and upgrade cultural assets like archaeological ruins, historical sites and traditional craft production.’’
He stressed the need for tourism to become community based and for members of the community to have some development initiatives through self-help projects.
“Such community development initiatives include building of schools, town halls, construction of feeder roads and drainpipe systems, electricity, water projects, establishment and maintenance of local markets.
“Generally, community based tourism avails tourists the opportunity to know the social, cultural and religious practices of the host.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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