President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday that his administration had spent $9bn (N2.745tn at the official exchange rate of N305 to $1) on power, roads and railways in the country in the last two years.
The President said this was part of the ongoing plans to diversify the economy through the development of tourism, agriculture and solid minerals, noting that the Federal Government was investing heavily in infrastructure.
Buhari made these remarks at the 61st meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and Commission for Africa in Abuja.
The President stated that as part of his administration’s social investment programmes, the government was giving N5,000 monthly to some 297,973 poor homes in the country.
The theme of the weeklong conference, which was attended by delegates from over 53 countries, was, ‘Tourism Statistics – A Catalyst for Development’. The President, in his speech read by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said Nigeria expects to benefit from tourism through increase in foreign exchange earnings, revenue generation, employment creation and cultural integration.
