Tourist Visits To Nigeria Plummet After Synagogue Tragedy

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”.















via nigerianeye