A few days after drawing flak from an American-based Online medium over its decision to go ahead with the 3rd National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo 2020 despite the COVID 19 pandemic, the event, earlier slated for April 27 and 28, 2020 has now been postponed with a future date to be announced.
According to a statement by the Main Organizing Committee, MOC, of the Expo, the decision to postpone the Expo was taken after due consideration of the effect of the pandemic.
“The Main Organizing Committee (MOC) of the 3rd National Tourism Transportation Summit & Expo have been keenly observing the international and national development in respect of the COVID 19 pandemic. With all sense of responsibility, our heart goes out to the global tourism and transportation industry that are the most affected in these times as nations are lockdown with various travel bans and activated emergency modes. We upheld the sanctity of human life over everything else – we commiserate with nations that have lost citizens in their hundreds” the statement read.
The organizer further added that a later date will be announced for the event while work will be ongoing in the background to ensure that the event is a success.
“The Main Organizing Committee (MOC) of the summit join the Nigerian Government to watch developments of the pandemic till the end of April 2020. This automatically means that the NTTS scheduled for 27th and 28th April 2020 stands postponed but be rest assured that the MOC will be working on the background; as soon as the relevant bans are relaxed; a new date shall be fixed for the Summit” the statement added.
Recall that former Zimbabwean Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Dr. Walter Mzembi had chided the organizer of the event for planning to go ahead with the event saying ‘It’s disturbing to see that the organizer of The Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo still have big plans and are attracting participants to their event”.
In response, the lead organizer of the Tourism and Transportation Summit, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo has said that cancellation or postponement of the event will be made when the time comes; should there be a need to so and only on the directive of the federal government of Nigeria, and credible national/international organizations.