One of the problems with Nigeria is lack of reliable data base in almost all our national dealings.We can hardly provide credible, reliable and accurate information on some important issues, simply because we pay less attention to our data base. This is contrary to standard practice all over the world. As a player in hospitality and hotel business in Nigeria, I have watched with dismay the reluctance of some hoteliers to register with the statutory regulatory body: Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) which has been urging them to comply in the last two years.The plead by the NTDC however took a new dimension sometime ago when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) placed an advertisement in some national dailies, giving a two- week ultimatum to all hoteliers and recreational park owners to get registered with the NTDC, following lack of information on the profiles of many of the hotels which are now being used as hide-outs by criminals and fraudsters.The EFCC explained that the ultimatum became imperative as it has been discovered that many fraudsters, money launderers and criminals use hotels and recreational parks to plan and execute their nefarious activities, with the Commission finding it difficult to locate many of the hotels as there are no data about the hotels. The Commission even said the statutory regulatory body of tourism business, (NTDC) could not provide adequate information as hoteliers failed to register.This kind of situation does not portray us as a serious nation. I remember that the Otunba Olusegun Runsewe-led NTDC has been pursuing this registration agenda in the last two years with minimal success. We can only be seen as a serious nation when there is an accurate database on every sector. The world has become a global village. People across the globe need information before they can do business with us. NTDC is the regulatory body of our tourism sector, why is it difficult for the players to get registered'When every hotel is registered by the NTDC, it will be easier for the Commission to provide information about every hotel in the country. Activities in the sector will be easier to regulate. Criminality will be easier to curtail. Nigeria will be seen as an organised society. I sincerely commend the collaboration between NTDC and EFCC in a bid to fight criminality and wish to call on other security agencies to support NTDC in regulating tourism sector.Runsewe has indeed given the sector a major facelift since his appointment as we have never had it so good. This hard working NTDC boss should be supported to further push the sector to higher heights. As EFCC has joined forces with the NTDC to fight fraud in tourism, other security agencies, including the police, should not hesitate to arrest any recalcitrant hotelier who fails to register with the NTDC. Any serious businessman should not be afraid to give legal backing to his business if he does not have anything to hide. To register is to be visible and recognised. NTDC should intensify effort in this respect and should not waste time in prosecuting any defaulter.Sulaiman Shuaib,Kebbi State,sulaimanshuaib@yahoo.com
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