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 to visit the Synagogue Church."
He described Synagogue 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".
Ihechukwu Njoku - freelance Nigerian journalist with information from: Guardian and PMNews Media
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