Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has entreated
controversial Prophet T.B. Joshua to rescind his decision to leave Nigeria.
“That will be very unfortunate in the sense that if he does move out, it
will affect our tourism in Nigeria,” Mohammed told journalists at the Annual
General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP),
held in the Renaissance Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.
“Pastor Joshua is an important person; he must bear with us,” the outspoken
Minister admitted to newsmen at the event which hosted top dignitaries within
the tourism sector. “This is his
country. If he moves out and goes to South Africa (for example), the revenue
will go to South Africa.”
Mohammed said he would
be reaching out to the cleric to voice his concerns, adding that the Nigerian
government was ready to dialogue with Joshua to address the challenges faced by
The SCOAN.
“It is better that Pastor Joshua sits down with the relevant
authorities and resolves whatever problems he has,” the Minister
concluded.
Mohammed’s
statements are the first public acknowledgement by the Nigerian government of
Joshua’s economic and social impact on the country in terms of religious
tourism.
The Synagogue
founder said during a church service on March 30 that he had been invited by
three prominent Israeli mayors to hold meetings with international pilgrims
close to the Biblical site of the Sea of Galilee.
Tags
Society