Umbrella body of private can sector tourism media practitioners in the country, the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET) has formally expelled the embattled Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mr Joesef Karim, from its fold with immediate effect.

The decision follows expiration of the seven working days window given to Mr Karim to respond to a query issued to him over charges of anti-association activities and professional misconduct levelled against him by ANJET.

The window was further extended by another one week which Karim also failed to explain his role in the allegations.

This is just as NIHOTOUR, following the backlash generated by the controversial training programme organised by the agency for journalists in the tourism industry, redeployed the now former member of the association.

The association, in the statement expelling him, issued Wednesday, July 10, 2024, said the charges stemmed from Karim’s appalling role in the recent organisation of a sham training programme for tourism journalists which took place in Lagos, from June 10 – 14.

According to a statement signed by President of ANJET, Mr Victor Nze, Tuesday, the now expelled member failed to provide explanations to the association as demanded over his deplorable role in assembling unverified media practitioners, as well as, others with questionable professional records under the guise of a training programme for tourism journalists.

The statement further informed that the expulsion of Karim is sequel to a protest letter transmitted to the Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John over the same matter.NIHOTOUR had shunned ANJET and its members in the said training programme following failed communications and proceeded to replace the seasoned tourism journalists with persons of dubious credibility with subsequent media reports claiming the agency organised a successful event for industry media practitioners.

In the letter expelling the NIHOTOUR spokesperson, as a member of its body, the association accused Mr Karim of continually and deliberately working against ANJET since last year, a situation which showed in his failure to respond to the query.

“You have never approached the ANJET President or any member of the executive committee whether writer or verbally to table your perceived grievances against conduct of any member of the entire association as a whole during the period of your membership of the association.

“Infact, the query was a window of opportunity for you to vent your grievances or table your complaints against ANJET but you shunned it and instead opted to respond in a barrage of unprintable expletives aimed at the association, further affirming claims of deliberate plots by you to scuttle and bring ANJET to disrepute.

“However, despite your obvious affront shown to ANJET members, including myself and the executive committee, we still expected you to provide us with a formal response in defence of your rude conduct and that never happened, even as a show of courtesy,” the statement read.

The association, however, thanked Karim for his contributions to the association during his time spent with them.

“We wish you the best in your future endeavours,” the statement concluded