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Date: 5/8/04
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Omotayo Omotosho, commended the ABC transport company for extending its luxury transport service to neighboring countries such as Ghana. She said the bus service between Lagos-Accra would boost tourism as well as economic activities between the two countries.
Mrs. Omotayo Omotosho, while flagging off the commencement of the Marco Polo bus on its maiden trip from Lagos to Accra , said that the efforts of the ABC management would have a lasting effect on the unity, economy and tourism activities.
“I am not seeing this feat as an attempt at boosting the tourism activities, but rather it will go a long way to cement the fraternal relationship between Nigeria and Ghana."
She noted that ABC transport has opened an avenue of smooth interaction between the people of West Coast without placing heavy financial burden on them. “With few amount, people in the two countries can exchange gifts, visit as well as tour the various tourist attractions in the two countries,”
Mrs. Omotosho said the ABC initiative, both in Nigeria and Ghana, by being effective and efficient in transport services is the greatest incentive for tourism. “What Mr. Frank Nnaji is doing today and has been doing is the greatest incentive for tourism. You can not talk of tourism without effectively talking about efficient transport service, just as you cannot talk of transport service without people to be transported. Hence, all of these work in tandem for the growth of the economy."
In a related development, Mrs. Omotosho has called for the reduction in check-points at borders in the sub-region.
On return from Ghana over the weekend, Mrs. Omotosho noted that the move would boost the economy and promote tourism in the sub-region.
“Through cooperation, collaboration and dogged effort at ensuring that these obstacles are overcome, the dream of setting a more balanced economy for countries within ECOWAS sub-region can be achieved.”
She added that there was the need for ECOWAS members to sensitize their citizens on the need to promote peaceful atmosphere for trade and tourism to thrive. “NTDC’s job as a government agency and tourism facilitator is to formerly inform the Ministry of Cooperation and Integration that is saddled with trade and tourism passage within the ECOWAS sub-region."
“We want them to now inform other countries of such passage. The countries will then sensitize their Immigrations Services, Customs, security agencies and others that have one thing or another to do at the border.” | 
