FG invests $9bn in infrastructure

By The federal government’s $9billion investment in road and power infrastructure in the last three years, is one measure aimed at boosting tourism, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has disclosed.
The minister, who also assured that the country is now safe for tourists and its citizens, declared that tourism remains the surest way of addressing unemployment and creating new jobs for the teeming unemployed Nigerian youth.
Mohammed made the declaration yesterday at a press conference to herald the 61st meeting of the UN World Tourism OrganisationCommission for Africa in Abuja, which starts today.
He said: “We are all set to host the best UNWTO-CAF Meeting ever! All the necessary preparations have been made to ensure this.
The main committee, as well as the many sub-committees, have worked tirelessly to make this event a huge success.
We also expect an impressive attendance.
“As at today, we have confirmation from 166 foreign delegates, 26 Ministers and 332 Nigerian delegates, excluding the gentlemen of the press.
Several delegates have arrived and many more are expected in today.” Assuring the delegates, the minister said, “We have nothing to fear about security.
Four years ago, a big chunk of this country was under Boko Haram.
Please permit me to most sincerely thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his invaluable support, without which this event would not have been possible.
“Thanks to the successes recorded by this Administration in fighting insecurity, we are holding this global meeting here.
Four years ago, hosting this event in Abuja would have been a pipe dream, considering the level of insecurity.
Remember that Boko Haram carried out many deadly attacks in this capital city.
That is now history.
Nigeria is safe and secure for its citizens and for foreign tourists and investors.
Whatever pockets of criminal acts that exist, are being addressed squarely.” On this year’s theme ”Tourism Statistics: A Catalyst for Development,” he said it “fits very well into our quest to improve on our tourism statistics for planning purposes and the ultimate development of our tourism.