By Gabriel Olawale

Former Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, Otunba Segun Runsewe, has called on tourism practitioners in Nigeria to wake up to their responsibilities of holding their leaders accountable.

Runsewe, who spoke during the recent National Association of Tour Operators, NATOP ‘s AGM in Calabar, Cross River State, noted that the industry leadership needs total overhauling in view of its lack of presence and poor advocacy for tourism change in Nigeria.

He said that the operators need to keep track of the activities of the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria, FTAN, the umbrella body for the private sector, particularly at this time when Nigeria needs help to diversify its economy.

The former NTDC boss expressed sadness at the poor attention to tourism in the past two years and wondered why some stakeholders could not challenge and correct the draw back.

Runsewe who was a recipient of NATOP award for major and historical tourism contribution during his tenure in office, noted that time has come to re-brand the industry, appreciating the fact that tourism is better than oil because it is the highest employer of labour in the world.