By Augustine Ehikioya
An expatriate, who lived and worked for many years in Paris, France, Mr. Alain Salameh, now managing Hotels in the past six years in Nigeria, has hinted that Abuja is safer than Paris and some other major cities of the world.
Despite the technologies and advancement in those cities, he said, he especially feels safer in Abuja than in Paris.
A multiple awards winner and current Ambassador of Hospitality in Nigeria, Salameh was a studio guest during the Security Watch Africa Initiative (SWAI) programme on the African Independent Television (AIT) in Abuja on Saturday.
The topic of the discussion anchored by SWAI President and C.E.O, Mr. Patrick Agbambu, was “Review of Hospitality Security In Nigeria”
According to Salameh, who is the Group General Manager of Shelter Suites and Hotels managing about 5 hotels across Nigeria, many reports of insecurity portrayed against Nigeria on the social media outside the country are untrue.
He stressed that many reports from his colleagues in the hospitality business in Nigeria have also severally confirmed safety and security of lives and property in Abuja.
Noting that the hospitality Industry in Nigeria has given kudos to the Nigeria Police Force, he said, the industry is always having regular interactions with the Force and any issue is timely handled.
He said “There is no insecurity in Abuja. Now I have stayed in Nigeria for about 6 years. I came to Nigeria before then in 2007 and 2009.
“I have encouraged people to come to Nigeria, but the problem is the scary news they hear about Nigeria.
“I have lived in Paris, Beirut, but I have never felt insecure in Abuja. When I go to Paris, I feel insecure.
“The only problem is the foreign news about Nigeria. The news are just like sabotage and they are not the reality on ground,” he added.
He also maintained that the hospitality business in Nigeria is far larger than hospitality business in Qatar, which is a renowned name in global hospitality.
Salameh, who is managing Hotels in Plateau, Lagos, Niger States and two hotels in the Federal Capital City of Abuja, declared that the business is good in Nigeria.
He stressed that the industry is the top employer of labour in Abuja and Lagos.
Steps, he advised, should be taken to officially introduce Nigeria to foreigners towards boosting tourism in the country.
But he listed some of the major challenges facing hospitality business in Nigeria to include the increasing dollar exchange rate, poor electricity power supply, hurdles faced while importing hospitality items.
