The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Nwoko, on Saturday, advocated for the establishment of tourism police force stations at airports and popular tourist destinations, as well as installing CCTV cameras for added security in Nigeria.
He believes that having a tourism police presence, similar to those in countries like Morocco and Turkey, would encourage visitors to come to Nigeria despite the security challenges the country faces.
Nwoko, disclosed this in Abuja, while receiving the Project fly with us and African Tourism Board in partnership with FCT Tourism Volunteers Network who paid him a congratulatory visit on his conferment as face of sports tourism Africa.
Nwoko, who is also the founder of the first university of sports Idumuje Gboko, Delta State Nigeria, said that no country can survive without harnessing the potentials in the tourism sector.
He said: “We must have a tourism police. There are tourism police in Morocco, we have Ganda, we have in many countries including Turkey, because many people will still want to come here despite all this crisis.
“But if we have a tourism police station at the airports, especially all those places that they want to visit, or Hotels, it will encourage those visitors to come here. In the midst of all this insecurity, we see.
“If they feel that there’s some sense of security provided by the government. You know, then the next thing I will like to see, which I also raised on the floor of the Senate some weeks ago, is that there should be CCTV cameras.”
In her remarks, the Convene of Project Fly With Us, Ambassador Peace Onuiri, called on stakeholders in the sports tourism sector to support Senator Ned Nwoko initiative to boost tourism activities and generate revenue for national development.
He seeks support to mobilize more Nigerians for the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will take place between January 13 and February 11, 2024, in Côte d’Ivoire.
While presenting an award to Nwoko, Onuiri said: “Your Excellency has always been a vanguard of inspiration and a strong advocate of Tourism, everyone one around you can testify to the contagious passion you have for Sports and tourism which is evident in your Tourism Resort and recently in the establishment of a Sports University that will serve the entire continent and bring massive development, which is in line with the philosophy of African Tourism Board “Tourism being a catalyst for unity, peace, growth, prosperity and job creation for Africans.
“In view of the above, the African Tourism Board congratulates you and offers to Award you with “Face of Sports Tourism Africa”. Your laudable achievements will be celebrated across the continent and in all our events. This celebration will commence in Abidjan during the Africa Cup of Nations, then Nigeria and other countries. Kindly accept our goodwill.”
Onuiri believes that the measures would help reassure tourists that the government is taking their safety seriously and would promote tourism in Nigeria.
