By Raph Izokpu
The umbrella body of all private sector tourism and related businesses in the country, Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), has urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration to implement the FCT tourism master plan.
President of the association, Alhaji Rabo Saleh stated this during a meeting with minister of state for FCT, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu in Abuja.
He said the full implementation of the master plan would definitely make the FCT one of the states to reckon with in the tourism industry.
The president stressed that the implementation would assist to actualize a speedy economic recovery plan which the private sector must be fully involved.
Saleh disclosed that 80 percent of all tourism and tourism related businesses that provide over 30,000 jobs in the FCT are private sector driven, while noting that the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has left the world economy in a devastating state, hence the need for diversification of the economy.
He, therefore called on the administration for public, private sector collaboration to develop domestic tourism sites like the Jabi Lake, Parks, and Katampe Hills, aimed at promoting tourism in the territory.
In her response, minister of State for FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, acknowledged the potential of the tourism sector in the area of job creation and lifting millions out of poverty in line with the presidential deliverables.
The minister who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy, Prof. Muhammad Usman, however told members of the association that the Abuja master plan was not cast on stone, stressing the need to review the plan,
Aliyu also noted that the nation’s projected population by 2050 would be about 450 million people, adding that with a projected huge population, it is important that all sectors are active in order to avoid crisis.
According to the minister, “we are giving you the assurance that the administration believes in what you do, not only because we are beneficiaries on the services you offer, but because we believe that you have the potential to employ even more than 30,000 jobs” he said.
