By Ihechukwu Njoku
Tourist Visits To Nigeria Plummet After Synagogue Tragedy
Several Nigerian media houses reported today how the tragic collapse
of a building at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) has
already begun to have an adverse affect on Nigerian tourism and its
attendant businesses.
According to a statement issued by the Airport Car Hire Association of
Nigeria (ACHAN) of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja,
Lagos, and signed by the chairman, Summonu Oseni, business slowed down
immediately after the building collapsed and has not picked up as
foreign visitors have dramatically reduced.
“The incident does not affect The SCOAN alone but also Nigeria’s
economy,” the statement said. “What happened is a big blow to the
economy of the nation, most especially, the airport as most of the
tourists to Nigeria are coming to visit The SCOAN. I mean, six out of
every 10 tourists come to Nigeria visit The SCOAN.”
He described The SCOAN as a positive ‘brand’ for Nigeria. “The SCOAN
is a big brand for Nigeria and a lot of revenues are generated by
those involved in the tourism chain, especially members of ACHAN, who
provide nothing less than 35 buses and equally a large number of small
vehicles to move these visitors on a daily basis.”
According to the statement, Nigeria should encourage the ‘SCOAN brand’
and not carry out malicious campaigns of calumny founded on
unsubstantiated information about it.
“We pray that this will not annoy the pastor and founder of the
church, Prophet T.B. Joshua to relocate to another country, as other
countries would like to have a man like him, who would boost tourism
for their nation.”
According to PM News, airlines are also feeling the economic impact of
the incident. An airline operator said that airlines such as South
African Airways, Arik Air, Aero Contractors, Air France and Lufthansa
Airways incurred the biggest losses from the reduction in spiritual
tourists to The SCOAN.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Joshua had already declared his
intention to visit South Africa on a monthly basis “to meet people
from South Africa and other nations who find South Africa easier to
visit, in memory of martyrs of faith”. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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This is an unfortunate indication of how absurdly ignorant and selfish majority of Nigerians have become.
ReplyDeleteWe should as a Nation stop dignifying stupidity by publishing statements like this on a medium that is accessible worldwide.
We should rather educate ourselves on how to demonstrate to the world that we a nation that has a sense of feeling and remorse for shady activities.
Nationals of other nations have die wrongfully under our watch and all we can talk about is money and booming business.
Utterly shameless and irresponsible mindset and behaviour... God help us all.
Remember, dia ris God oooo!!!!
THE UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT AT SCOAN IS HIGHLY REGRETABLE, AND WELL MEANING NIGERIANS AND IN INDEED THE WORLD HAVE CONTINUALLY PRAYED FOR THE SOULS DEPARTED SHOULD REST IN PEACE, WITHOUT SENTIMENTS WE SHOULD IMPLORE THAT THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED GET TO THE ROOT OF IT ALL, ITS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THOSE FOREIGNERS CAME HERE AS TOURISTS VISITING NIGERIA IN RESPECT OF SCOAN, BECAUSE OF THE INCESSANT SHARING OF OIL/GAS MONEY WE TEND TO FORGET THAT TOURISM SUSTAINS THE ECONOMY OF MOST COUNTRIES- ISREAL, ITALY, GREECE, FRANCE, 65% OF TOURISTS TO THOSE COUNTRIES ARE RELIGIOUS TOURISTS. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT THE VISITORS THAT COME INTO NIGERIA ON WEEKLY BASIS ARE FACING IKOTUN-EGBE NOT VI, NOT LEKKI.,AS FAR THEY ARE CONCERNED THE LAGOS THEY KNOW IS IKEJA>IKOTUN -EGBE...SHIKINA OUR TOURIST BOARD SHOULD MAXIMIZE ON THIS. LETS AVOID BEING SENTIMENTAL ABOUT IT. THINK WITHOUT OIL MONEY.
ReplyDeletePls stop referring to those that died in this ugly incident 'martyrs of faith'. They aren't 'martyrs of faith'. I'm sorry they died but as far as I'm concerned, ignorance is involved in the cause of their death. You shouldn't even be talking about faith,because God instructed that we accept all he brings to us,he even said we should praise him in all things even in death. How come when people face difficult circumstances, they're ready to go to the extreme to save themselves, instead of just accepting willingly God's wish for them.
ReplyDeletepls help me tell them
ReplyDelete