While inspecting the venue that will be used to host UN World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO) commission for Africa meeting, which will take place from June 4th to 6th at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed stated that before the Buhari-administration came into power in 2015, insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja was so bad.
According to Lai Mohammed, people residing in the city could not sleep with their two eyes closed and it would have been impossible to host such conference in Nigeria. He said;
But for the effort of this government mostly in the area of fighting insecurity, we won’t be hosting this meeting in Nigeria. When we were bidding to host this conference in 2016, I had to explain to them that the federal government of Nigeria was on top of the security situation in Nigeria. Four-five years ago, it would have been impossible to host this conference in Nigeria. I remember that four-five years ago, nobody in Abuja was sleeping with his or her two eyes closed. But we are very confident in holding this meeting here because of the success we have recorded in decapitating Boko Haram.”
The minister said the country would use the meeting to tell the world that “this is a country in a hurry to develop”.
“We are expecting about 180 foreign delegates. Already 26 ministers from Africa have signified their intention to come,” he said.
“We want to use this meeting to tell the world that Nigeria is not just at peace but that Nigeria is ready to host the entire world. We will show to them, with the planning and activities that this is a country in a hurry to develop. During the conference, we are also organizing a tour of tourist sites within Abuja.”
Lai Mohammed expressed satisfaction with the level of Nigeria’s preparedness to host the meeting.
