By Frank Meke
So much seems to shape public discourse in Nigeria in recent times, and those issues are so debasing, reflective of our poor state of emotional intelligence, quest for knowledge, and decorating lies curated in chocolate colour
A few days ago, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook threatened to close shop in Nigeria due to regulatory tension between meta( parent company of the two digital outfits) and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission ( FCCPC).
FCCPC had alledgedly investigated the two meta parties as the outfits are known and found them wanting, particularly in violating Nigeria Data Protection Regulation and the Federal competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018. The meta threat certainly is not moving the government Consumer commission agency to withdraw, but the agency is more resolute than ever to bring meta to pay a fine of about 223 billion naira.
Nigeria Facebook and Instagram journalists, most of the purveyors of fake news and threat to national security, have gone to bed, waiting for a dark angel to open flood gate of nuisance protests against FCCPC for being too hard on their vehicles of disinformation and cyber bullying against their perceived opponents.
And since technology seems to have redefined lots of ways and means of doing cultural tourism business worldwide, it should interest us how the meta parties and FCCPC faceoff would pan out.
I have enrolled for careful schooling about artificial intelligence and its impart on media organisations, and so far, I fear it could be weaponized by lazy people to destabilise the media space Though there are sufficient laws and agencies to curb the menace, one thing, however remains critical, and that is the usage and application of these tools of communication by unpatriotic elements.
In our cultural tourism reportage, a demon possessed by lies, enviousness, and subterfuge and unable to use traditional media where there are more gate keepers, may resort to the usage of the meta parties to spew venom and inadvertently ( good riddance) waste his or her future.
Sometimes, it wise to deliver the wicked from their desperate act of wickedness and vindictiveness. Sadly, our industry, from the government policy management team and the private sector players, are filled with such irritatants and never do well.
No doubt, our president has done his best for choosing for us ministers and lately a minister who chose to do only the business of signing Memorandum of understandings with any organisation in and outside the country without any impactful returns and you will ask for what purposes and gains in the last two years.
When I look at the impactful practical project deliveries of sister ministries and agencies in aviation and Immigration, I kind of wonder why we are so unlucky with our cultural tourism minders.
It is even degenerative to behold that some people whose brains need fixing at Aro facilities in Abeokuta or Yaba left , cloud not wake up from slumber to draw attention to those anomalies but chose to be throwing pebbles at those who insist that Nigeria tourism industry must not carry last.
George Lucky, one of the best tourism journalist born and breed in this country and currently the Executive secretary, Africa Travel Commission told me during a radio conversation last week, that government cultural tourism business is solely to mint creative industry policies and allow the private sector to harvest the gains.
Our minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa, was alledgely at the just concluded Arab travel market in Dubia merely and gleefully signing off Memorandum of understanding with a private foreign air line to market and promote Nigeria and trust our media, they simply reported without interrogating or interpretating such unbelievable action.
This minister, in the past two years, has neither led the organised public or private sector players or agencies on a cultural tourism promotional effort outside the country, and the industry is so, so quiet about it. The world abhor a vacuum and to go about town with a short put slanger in hand, attacking organisations and persons who stood in gaps for our country, is to say and testify that the devil is a known specialist in using the lowest of humanity to set a nation or people backwards.
Our minister didn’t see anything good in our Airpeace to help promote and market Nigeria cultural tourism economy outside our shore. Maybe and maybe, she sees nothing good in our own aviation brand, nothing comparable to Emirates which Lords itself over us and insisted we must fly them at their terms, not ours.
Now, we see why meta could not threaten to pull out of India, South Korea, France, Australia, and other places for being slammed huge fines against it , would dare Nigeria with such ridiculous blackmail of pulling out of Nigeria. Thank God, FCCPC has a tested journalist and lawyer, Tunji Bello, as the boss of that patriotic agency or else, maybe somebody would be signing MOU to give the meta parties free hands to violate our data bank and turn us to slaves in our country.
President Tinubu is not working , some people would scream but have any of such wolf crying agents
brought anything to the table for our country and tourism? If we take a head count of those useful and impactful to our cultural tourism space, many people who prance around and live in self delusionary stupor would be surprised that they would not measure up.
Our president was in kastina the other day, sharing the hot front lines with our military men, shoring up their morale, and inspiring them to stand firm against rogue elements who want to turn Nigeria into kidnapping headquarters of the world and his minister of tourism, who should be so concerned about the disruptive impact of such a breach of security and a daughter of kastina state, was away in dubai, not with a single cultural tourism artifact or at a Nigerian pavilion to husband and market Nigeria cultural tourism products but merely on a side table, egging on a deceitful signature session over an mou agenda good only enough for the cameras and not for our country and people. Are MOUs now the new cultural tourism products of Nigeria? Make una dey check am ooo!.
Call to Glory. Charles Okomadu, investment banker and former Secretary of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, joined the saints a few days ago. We thank God for his life and service to our country and its tourism business. Charles possibly passed away disappointed that the business which he left a promising career in banking to embrace is still in the dark recesses of the thick forest, with everyone nibbling at its values in a cat and rat game. My dear brother, may God keep you in peace and take care of your family ijn. I know that the government and even your state government won’t remember you. Our Senate and House committee members and their leadership won’t table your sacrifices before the house for just prayers alone. The industry is still divided down the line, so forgive us for not getting our ass together to appreciate your contributions.
The minister won’t call a minute silence in your honour while in dubai, I doubt if the Ikeja Hotels Plc owned by the ibrus would remember that you served Goddie ibru with all you have when he was ftan president. I should think too that Alhaji munzali Dantata should remember you. I should think that the big calabar carnival masquerade and ex minister of Tourism, Edem Duke, should celebrate you. Sadly, we don’t have the culture of remembering the dead, even the living. But I am very sure God will remember your dedication and commitment to our country and the tourism community. Bye, dear brother, forgive our country and our industry leaders and players who had the opportunity to turn things around in the sector but chose to drink tea with the devil.