President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said under his watch, Nigeria is now sufficiently safe and secure.
Buhari according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, stated this while receiving the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Zurab Pololikashvili, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The 61st UNWTO Commission for Africa conference is ongoing in Abuja.
Buhari said since the first thing tourists all over the world looked out for was security, Nigeria was now open for tourism.
He noted that the security situation in the country before the inception of his administration would have made it inconceivable to host an international tourism conference in Abuja like it was being done.
Buhari said: “I am pleased that the country is now sufficiently safe and secure, and the message should go out to the world for all tourists and business travellers.
“The first thing tourists look out for is security and I am happy we have it now.
“Minister Lai Mohammed has been trying to convince the world that Nigeria is safe and has great potential for tourism and investment.
“I am glad that you and your team have come here to see things for yourself.”
Highlighting the nexus between tourism and sustainable development, the President said Nigeria would not be left behind in ensuring that communities and businesses benefit from tourism development.
In his remarks, Pololikashvili commended Nigeria for the successful hosting of the conference which brings together African Ministers of Tourism, principal executives of the global tourism body and other stakeholders in the tourism sector.
The UN tourism chief told Buhari that Nigeria had huge potential to develop the tourism sector considering its large economy.
He said, “We can do it in Nigeria, we can create, convert Nigeria to the main tourist destination in Africa. There is a huge potential here. Culture, nature, food, you have everything here.
“You are investing in agriculture, improving seamless travel through visa-on-arrival programme, reforming the economy and doing so much on security. Nigeria is safe,” Pololikashvili said.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said 166 delegates, including 26 tourism ministers from Africa were attending the UN tourism conference, holding from June 4 to June 6 in Abuja.
