Every state in Nigeria is safe, contrary to a recent negative report by the United States.

This became imperative following the advisory published by the United States, which awashed national dailies declaring twenty Nigerian states unsafe and completely no go area.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who made this when he received a delegation from the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria,ATPN, said it was not correct.

Mohammed admonished the media to desist from propagating negative news about the country, stressing that it would discourage investors and be counter productive to tourism growth.

The minister urged the media and members of the association to complement efforts of government to reposition the tourism sector.

He noted that tourism was driven by perception rather than reality, adding that every Nigerian must invest in perception management for the country.

The minister also urged leaders in the public and private sectors to help promote local tourism by spending their vacations and holidays at tourist sites within the country.

He said the ministry would soon embark on visitation of major tourist sites in the country to assess their potential for development.

Earlier, the National President of ATPN, Kabir Malan, commended the minister for his efforts at repositioning the tourism sector.

He called for the review and implementation of the Tourism National Plan as well as the enactment of laws that would guide the operation of tourism practitioners.

Malan also urged the government to encourage investors to set up tourist camps across the country and make loans accessible to them.