Ebola: Nigeria is open, safe & unrestricted – Wakanow CEO
Group CEO of Wakanow, Bayo Adedeji, says following the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria remains open, safe and unrestricted to tourists and travelers. He also notes that Nigeria’s can take advantage of the ongoing gulf tension and attract additional revenue through the tourism and hospitality sector. He joins CNBC Africa for this discussion.
Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:08:01 GMT
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AI Generated Summary
Key Points:
- Wakanow CEO Bayo Adedeji said Nigeria remains open, safe and unrestricted for travelers despite the Ebola outbreak in the DRC.
- He argued that Nigeria should focus on positive developments in tourism-related infrastructure rather than a persistently negative narrative.
- Adedeji cited the rebuilding and expansion of Lagos airport as a foundational step toward improving inbound tourism.
- He also pointed to coastal road development and rising hotel activity as signs of emerging tourism investment.
- Adedeji pushed back against calls to rapidly decentralize tourism across all states, saying successful markets usually rely on a few strong hotspots.
- He said tourism development should prioritize factors such as airport access, hotel bed capacity, event venues and local disposable income.
- According to him, hospitality assets outside major urban centers often struggle because they cannot rely solely on inbound travelers year-round.
- He called for capital investment and intentional funding for tourism businesses that can create jobs and expand economic activity.
- Adedeji said some tourism businesses in Nigeria already employ thousands of workers, highlighting the sector’s employment potential.
- He added that Nigeria could benefit from shifting global and regional travel dynamics, including tensions in other markets.
Topics
Nigeria tourismWakanowBayo AdedejiEbola outbreakDRCtravel safetyLagos airporthospitality sectorinfrastructure developmentAfrican tourism
Nigeria remains open, safe and unrestricted for tourists and business travelers despite renewed health concerns on the continent who argued that the country is also positioned to unlock fresh revenue from tourism and hospitality if it continues to build around its strongest travel hubs
Speaking in a television interview against the backdrop of the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Adedeji sought to reassure travelers that Nigeria remains accessible and operational. His remarks come at a time when African travel sentiment can be quickly affected by regional health scares, often with spillover effects on countries not directly impacted
Adedeji said Nigeria should not be viewed through an overly negative lens, emphasizing instead what he described as visible progress in auntry’s tourism proposition over time
“I’m one of those guys that I never talk negatively about Nigeria,” Adedeji said, adding that he continues to focus on developments that are “moving the needle.”
A central part of his argument was that tourism growth begins with access, and in Nigeria’s case, that means airports and transport links. He pointed to ongoing work at Lagos airport as a sign that the country is laying the groundwork for stronger inbound tourism, even if the process has not been without setbacks
Adedeji acknowledged the recent flooding incident at the new terminal in Lagos but described it as an unfortunate episode within a broader transition toward better infrastructure. In his view, the more important story is that the airport is being rebuilt and expanded to serve as a more capable international gateway
“That is the gateway to the world,” he said, arguing that improving air access is “the first step in improving tourism and improving inbound tourism.”
Beyond af opportunity. He said a recent drive along the coastal road showed how infrastructure can unlock new beachfront activity, stimulate hotel construction and increase private-sector investment in hospitality capacity
According to him, the emergence of more hotels and tourism-linked businesses along that corridor is an early indicator that Nigeria is beginning to capitalize on its natural and commercial assets, even if many observers have not yet fully recognized the trend
Still, the interview also underscored a longstanding debate in Nigerian tourism policy: whether the sector should be aggressively decentralized so that more states can attract visitors, or whether authorities should first double down on existing high-demand destinations such as Lagos and Abuja
Asked why tourists cannot more easily choose destinations such as Kebbi or Ogun states for leisure and hospitality experiences, Adedeji pushed back on the premise that every state must become an immediate tourism center. He argued that most successful tourism markets around the world are anchored by a limited number of major hotspots
Drawing comparisons with Kenya and <a href="https://absafricatv.com/south-africa-renews-push-for-cleaner-air-and-stronger-partnerships-science/" title="South Africa Renews Push for Cleaner Air and Stronger Partnerships | Science”>South Africa, he said international visitors tend to cluster around a few well-developed cities rather than disperse evenly across an entire country. In Kenya, he noted, travel is typically concentrated in Nairobi and Mombasa, while South Africa’s tourism traffic often centers on Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban
For Nigeria, he said, the smarter strategy is to strengthen established tourism centers first and allow growth to radiate outward over time. That means concentrating on fundamentals such as airport access, hotel bed capacity, conference venues, stadiums and the local spending power needed to sustain hospitality businesses throughout the year
Adedeji stressed that tourism infrastructure cannot survive on inbound visitors alone. In off-peak periods, he said, local demand becomes essential, particularly when travelers from Europe and the United States are less likely to visit because of seasonal preferences or competing holiday options at home
“It’s the local economy that will support that business in this period of the year,” he said
That point, he argued, explains why some tourism infrastructure outside Nigeria’s main urban centers struggles to remaine to support hotels, attractions and recreation facilities during slower travel periods, those investments can deteriorate or fail to scale
Rather than dispersing scarce reer first” and then use that momentum to expand into areas where there is room to build and where demand can be cultivated more sustainably
The comments reflect a commercially pragmatic view of tourism development, one that favors concentration of capital in proven corridors before broader geographic expansion. They also align with a wider industry argument that tourism policy should be tied more closely to demand economics, not just regional inclusion
Adedeji also suggested that the current geopolitical environment, including ongoing Gulf tensions referenced in the interview, may create an opening for Nigeria to attract additional tourism and hospitality revenue. While he did not elaborate in detail, the implication was that travel disruptions or shifting preferences in other markets can sometimes redirect business and leisure flows toward alternative destinations
To fully capitalize on such openings, however, he said Nigeria will need more than positive messaging. His prescription centered on leadership and investment. He said recent appointments have placed people in key positions who understand what tourism requires, but that meaningful progress will depend on intentional capital deployment into businesses and infrastructure capable of driving employment and economic activity
According to Adedeji, some tourism businesses in Nigeria already employ between 3,000 and 4,000 people, underscoring the sector’s potential as a job creator if adequately financed
In that sense, his message was both defensive and aspirational: defensive in reassuring travelers that Nigeria remains safe and unrestricted despite a regional Ebola outbreak, and aspirational in arguing that the country is steadily building the transport, hospitality and investment base needed to emerge as a stronger tourism market
For now, Adedeji’s case rests on a simple proposition: Nigeria’s tourism industry should not be judged only by its shortcomings, but also by the infrastructure taking shape and the economic clusters that could, if supported with capital and policy consistency, form the backbone of long-term sector growth
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