Travel Marketing Partner (Nigeria) Limited has secured the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy (FMACTCE), the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), and other stakeholders for the maiden edition of the National Tourism Safety and Security Technology Conference and Trade Show.
The two-day conference is scheduled to hold from July 6 to 7, 2026, at the Army Headquarters Command Event Centre, Asokoro, Abuja.
Chief Executive Officer of Travel Marketing Partner, Mr. Shola Ilupeju, disclosed the development while unveiling plans for the landmark event. He noted that the conference requires broad-based collaboration involving government ministries, departments and agencies, security institutions, and private sector operators.
According to Ilupeju, the conference is designed to strengthen safety, security, and resilience within Nigeria’s tourism ecosystem through the deployment of modern technologies, policy dialogue, and stakeholder collaboration.
“The National Tourism Safety and Security Technology Conference and Exhibition is an initiative aimed at strengthening safety, security, and resilience within Nigeria’s tourism ecosystem through the deployment of modern technologies, policy dialogue, and stakeholder collaboration,” he said.
The conference, themed “Safe and Secure Destination: Key to Sustainable Tourism Development,” seeks to provide a national platform for addressing tourism safety and security challenges, showcase innovative security technologies for tourism destinations, promote inter-agency collaboration, and support government efforts to position Nigeria as a safe and attractive tourism destination.
In addition to the conference and exhibition, the event will feature the Safe Destination Award 2026, a recognition programme designed to celebrate excellence in tourism security and safety management.
Ilupeju described the award as a flagship recognition framework under the National Safe and Secure Travel Experience (NASTREX) initiative.
He explained that the award will assess and honour destinations, hospitality hubs, and local jurisdictions that demonstrate exceptional commitment to travellers’ safety and institutional security.
“As Nigeria continues to position itself as a leading African hub for business and cultural tourism, the Safe Destination Award will serve as a seal of confidence, bridging the gap between perceived security risks and the reality of safe, well-managed travel corridors,” he said.
He added that the initiative would encourage healthy competition among state governments and tourism operators to improve security standards and strengthen local tourism assets.
NTDA Endorses NASTREX Initiative
Ilupeju also announced that the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) has officially endorsed the National Safe and Secure Travel Experience (NASTREX), an initiative aimed at enhancing safety and security for tourists, travellers, and tourism facilities across the country.
According to him, Travel Marketing Partner and NTDA plan to deploy technology-driven solutions, including biometric identity verification and other security measures, to reduce risks faced by tourists and tourism service providers.
He noted that the initiative is expected to improve visitor confidence, create employment opportunities, attract investment into the tourism sector, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of NTDA, Dr. Olayiwola Awakan, the Director of Legal Services, Mrs. Olufunke Soleye, expressed support for the initiative.
She stated that the authority believes the National Safe and Secure Travel Experience programme would significantly strengthen safety and security measures within the tourism sector and called on stakeholders to support its successful implementation.
The conference is expected to bring together government officials, security agencies, tourism operators, technology providers, investors, and industry experts to explore innovative solutions for building safer tourism destinations across Nigeria.
