Organiser of Akwaaba Travel Travel Market
The organiser of annual Akwaaba African Travel Market Expo, Ambassador Ikechi Uko has commended the Federal Government of Nigeria for its support by promptly resolving visa issues for foreign delegates to this year’s edition of the programme.
In a WhatsApp message to tourism stakeholders, Ambassador Uko shared his relief that the knotty issue of procurement of Nigerian visa was resolved quickly.
According the organiser of the West African largest travel market Expo, the issue was resolved with the assistance from the ministers of Tourism and Interior after a complaint he made online on the frustrations foreigners willing to visit Nigeria face while attempting to obtain Nigerian visa from their home countries.
“I had made a post about my frustrations with Visa for my delegates coming from all over Africa. I had complained that online visa on arrival was very expensive and the Nigerian Embassies in East Africa were not giving visas forcing everyone to go online. Some people shared my post with the Minister of Tourism and She called me to find out the details. After explaining the situation to her she promised to engage her colleague, the Minister of Interior. I am happy to say that between the Ministers of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Tourism Lola Ade-John and the Comptroller General of Immigration Kemi Nanna Nandap, they resolved the issues. My first delegates are arriving now and I am happy that resolution is not Just for my event. The new measures will be applied across board to all African visitors to Nigeria.”
The organiser believe that Meetings Incentives Conferences and Events MICE are more obligatory than leisure travel which is optional and Nigeria stands to benefit more supporting MICE.
He affirmed, “Akwaaba as the biggest Travel Expo in West Africa has not been supported by the Government in access venue and hosted buyers programmes so this intervention by the Minister of Tourism is the first and is nuch appreciated.”
“The Government of Nigeria has been on a review of its visa processes and the new measures will soon be announced. There has been complaints from most travellers to Nigeria about the expensive visa on arrival programme as Nigerian Embassies in Some African countries do not have Visa stickers,” Uko said.
Twenty countries will be represented at the 20th edition of Akwaaba African Travel Market holds between September 22 and 24, 2024 at Eko Hotels Convention Centre.
