Berlin — Nigeria is safe for investors and tourists to visit according to the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, on the opening day of the ITB Berlin, a travel trade exhibition taking place in the historic German capital of Berlin.

The 47th edition of the annual international travel trade exhibition opened yesterday with exhibitors, tourism experts and investors from 188 countries including Nigeria in attendance at the Messe Berlin International Conference Centre. Over 160, 000 square metres exhibition space was filled to capacity with different tourism destinations, products and services on display.

The Nigerian stand was an imposing 60 square metre space, the largest from the country till date.

A recurring question from the scores of international visitors that were attracted to the Nigerian stand was on security. However, Runsewe insisted that insecurity was not a problem as the Nigerian government is on top of the situation.

Speaking from the Hall 21 location of the Nigerian stand he said: "The security issue is only limited to few states in the northern part of the country and the Federal Government is very serious and proactive in handling the situation. Come to Nigeria. Your investments and lives are safe."

Nigeria, he said, is blessed with abundant resources, especially in the area of tourism, and a population of over 160 million is a large market for investors to take advantage of.

Runsewe also used the occasion to invite visitors to the Nigerian Day celebration which is to hold on Saturday.

The celebration is dedicated to celebrating the victory of the national football team, the Super Eagles, which became African champion at the just concluded African Cup of Nations.