President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday urged tourists and investors to consider Nigeria as their second home.
He spoke during the opening ceremony of the 61st Meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Commission for Africa (UNWTO-CAF).
The President, who was represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, said his administration had attractive investment incentives for tourism investors.
He listed the incentives to include minimum tariff on imported tourism equipment, amusement park equipment and materials for hotel construction and furnishing, dedicated transportation for tour operators and equipment for restaurants not manufactured in Nigeria, work permit for foreign workers with specialised skills within the industry and land at concessionary rate by state governments to tourism investors.
Buhari said the administration, having identified the tourism sector as one of the pillars of its diversification policy, was also investing heavily in infrastructure and human resource development to make Nigeria a choice destination for tourists.
He said: “In our efforts at diversifying the economy through agriculture, solid minerals development and tourism, we are investing heavily in infrastructure. This administration has injected US$9 billion to strengthen its investment in power, roads, and railway in the past two years alone.
“Also, this government is investing in human resource development through the introduction of the Social Investment Programme that has benefitted nine million people. These programmes include our Home-Grown School Feeding Programme that is providing one meal a day to 7.4 million pupils in 22 states; N-Power programme that has employed 200,000 university graduates and is about to employ 300,000 more; the Conditional Cash Transfer under which some 297,973 poor homes are receiving N5,000 monthly, and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme that has provided loans to hundreds of thousands of small business owners,” the President said.
Buhari hailed the “creative young talents” that have made Nigerian music and films the toast of the world.
For the Nigerian youths, the best is yet to come, he said.
He hailed the leadership of the UNWTO, the Commission for Africa (CAF) and African tourism ministers for considering Nigeria worthy of hosting the event.
Host of the event and Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, said hosting the event in Nigeria was a testimony to the achievements of the Buhari Administration, especially in the area of security.
“As a matter of fact, four years ago, this meeting could not have been held here. Recall that Boko Haram carried out many attacks in this capital city. The United Nations (UN) Complex, the Police Headquarters, a newspaper house, bus station, were attacked.
“Residents of Abuja could not sleep with their two eyes closed. Today, that is history. There is no clearer evidence than the fact that this event is being held here in the city,” he said.
Mohammed said the administration is working hard to boost tourism in the country, citing the Visa On Arrival policy, massive investment in upgrading infrastructure and enhancing security, as well as the provision of enabling environment and incentives, including strong public and private sector collaboration and enabling laws for the preservation and protection of cultural heritage, as some of the measures being taken by the government.
He thanked Buhari for his support without which, he said, the hosting of the conference would not have been possible.
The minister said the meeting provides an excellent opportunity to discuss ways and means to promote intra-Africa travels and tourism, leveraging on the continent’s vast and unique resources and our number, for mutual benefit to member states.
The three-day meeting is being attended by over 500 delegates, including 26 African Ministers of Tourism, the Secretary-General of the UNWTO, who is leading the top executives of the global tourism body, as well as tourism experts and stakeholders.