Richard Quest, CNN International Anchor and Business Editor-at-Large, has urged the Federal Government to invest in building more infrastructure to boost tourism across the country.
Quest told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the country would attract tourists from Africa and the Diaspora if it invested more in infrastructure.
“What Nigeria has, of course, is strong African roots and heritage. So, I see it becoming a major tourists destination within Africa”.
“I think Nigerian tourism has a huge, huge potential for intra African tourism, diaspora tourism. You’ll get good tourism from intra Africa, people who want to come and see this giant country from neighboring countries”.
“To make that happen, the Nigerian government needs to invest more into building infrastructure,” the CNN international news anchor told NAN in Lagos.
He also said that he found Nigeria’s arts and culture “fascinating”.
“Talking of Nigerian culture, I find the arts, contemporary dance, the old traditions, legacy of this country and its background fascinating”.
Quest, who was in Nigeria for the 20th Anniversary of CNN’s ‘Inside Africa,’ said coming to Nigeria was both “exhilarating and depressing” for him.
“The people I meet in Nigeria are phenomenal, talented, educated, driven, and aggressive and have a cutting edge for design, drama, music and people who can truly lead Africa”.
“And then I turn around and look at what they are leading, a capital with power cuts, where the roads are bad and the health care is spotty,” Quest said.
The international journalist said the recent US immigrant visa ban on Nigerians and some countries was an “unwelcome surprise.”
“It was a surprise. It was an unwelcome surprise. But I think that the good part is it probably won’t be as bad as people think”.
“And I think that the Nigerian authorities are now starting to address some of the immigrant issues and the border protection issues that the US had,” Quest said.
The CNN news anchor said he would love to go out and have some Nigerian local dishes “although I don’t really like spicy dishes.”(NAN)