The Ministry of Information and Culture (MIC) has confirmed requesting
for a loan of N13,120,470.00 million from the National Broadcasting Commission
(NBC) to cover a five-man delegation to Beijing, China for a conference on
Tourism for Development, reports ITRealms.
MIC also insisted that the loan is not a personal loan for the
Honourable Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
A press statement signed by Director of Press (DoP) and
Protocols at MIC, Dama N.P.D. and made available to ITRealms, said their attention
has been drawn to a letter endorsed by (DoP) to the Ag. Director General, NBC,
said the loan is to cover tickets and travel expenses of a five-member delegation being led by the Honourable
Minister of Information and Culture to Beijing, China.
Dama alleged that the internal memo was mischievously leaked to
the social media by staff of National Broadcasting Commission.
According to Dama, the loan being requested is for the Ministry
to meet up its obligations to enable the Minister and members of his delegation
attend the Conference on Tourism for Development in China, that is, meant to
benefit the country.
“The loan is not meant for the Honourable Minister alone as
personal expenses, but for the expenses of all members of the delegation … but for the
entire five members of the delegation to cover for
tickets, travel allowances and other incidentals,” Dama said.
The conference, Dama said, is being organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation in
conjunction with the Government of the People’s Republic of China, under the
overall theme “Tourism for Peace and Development,” will feature amongst others
discussions on major issues for sustainable development including the
contribution of Tourism to poverty reduction and peace.
Dama further said the Conference will also feature discussion on
major issues that have direct bearing on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
poverty alleviation through Tourism and the linkage between Tourism peace at
the National and International levels.
In addition, Dama said, China on this occasion as chair of G20
will also host the 7th T20 Ministers meeting under the theme
“Sustainable Tourism,
An Effective Tool for Inclusive Development.''
The Conference, the DoP pointed out, is a veritable platform to
develop synergy and partnership with players in the global Tourism Industry
which will go a long way in boosting our drive to diversify the Nigerian economy.
“It is also important to note that the Minister and his
delegation were to have discussion in China with Set Top Box Manufacturers, who are meant to establish manufacturing
factories in Nigeria for these boxes for our digital broadcasting processes, rather than the current situation
in which the boxes are being imported. This is meant to conserve our foreign exchange and to also
create avenue for job creation for our citizens,” Dama said.
The DoP emphasized that the Conference is an all important gathering that will benefit Nigeria, contribute towards
diversification of its revenue base and create employment opportunities for
Nigerians.
“Again, it is not unusual for an agency under the Ministry to
assist in order to carry out government functions. Moreover, the
request was discussed with the Ag. Director General NBC, who agreed to assist
with the loan before the letter was written. It is therefore
shocking to find out that an internal memorandum from the Ministry could be
leaked out to the social media by saboteurs in order to embarrass the
government,” Dama said, maintaining that no multiple letters were written to
government agencies as alleged.
“We only wrote to NBC after discussing with the Ag.
DG. Payments were to be effected if the fund were loaned out based
on extant financial regulations. There is nothing wrong with the
request of the Ministry to meet up with an important assignment meant to
benefit the country,” Dama claimed.
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