IT was a big Christmas surprise as the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) released its executive summary of tourism events during the Christmas period.

The big evangelical churches pulled over 15 million people to their retreat grounds and kept them there for seven days generating N90 billion (about $890 million).

For a country just launching its Tourism Master plan, it's a welcome news that for once there were figures to show there was active domestic tourism even though it was of religious kind.

Outside oil and the movies that have made Nigeria popular worldwide, the Nigerian Evangelical Churches are the fastest growing Christian organisation in the world.

They are popular all over Africa and in the West. One of the churches, the Redeemed Christians Church of God just opened a new headquarters in Floyd, Texas.

These churches are so popular worldwide that they have branches even in countries without Nigerian Embassies.

According to Director General NTDC Otunba Segun Runsewe the "Holy Ghost Congress" at Ibafon near Lagos of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) attracted over three million people from 34 countries, 14 African and 20 non African Countries spending over $10 million on accommodation and feeding in seven days, by the foreign delegates and about N22 billion (about $200 million) by the domestic delegates on accommodation, feeding, souvenirs, olive oil, cassettes etc and transportation.

Runsewe also said that the "SHILOH" by the Winners Chapel another evangelical church attracted 4.5 million people for its annual congress at Otta near Lagos in Nigeria's southwest.

Winners Chapel has the largest church building in the world, which seats over 50,000 adherents. It also has a very modern Covenant University and its leader Dr. David Oyedepo flies around in a private jet.

"Shiloh" attracted delegates from 35 countries 12 African and 23 non African countries that spent eight days.

The foreign delegates spent just $1.5 million on accommodation, while the Nigerian delegates spent about $630 million on accommodation, transportation, souvenirs, olive oil and so on in over eight days.

Figures from the retreat of another mega church The Deeper Life Bible Church and Christ Embassy were not made available by the agency.

Another Christian organisation though not accepted by the Evangelicals as one of their own" The Synagogue Church" attracts about 60,000 foreigners every year from Korea, South Africa, and The Scandinavian countries to its Lagos based centre.

Also The House on the Rock with its mega Musical concert called , THE EXPERIENCE attracted over 10,000 foreigners.The capacity at the TBS was over 300,000. Foreigners fROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES GRACED THE OCCASION.Notably renowned American preacher TD Jakes.


The figure from NTDC confirms what has been an unofficial belief that the mega churches annual congresses attract more people to the Lagos Area in December than any other gathering in the world. Scary figures you may say.

With the success of the various conventions by various churches in December,don't you think the Church is a viable platform to transform Nigeria's tourism potentials.

If you were at any church convention last december ,please share your experiences with the forum.
I attended the EXPERIENCE, and it was a great success considering the mammoth crowd, quality music, personalities that attended and security.
Will tell you more about the last Experience.
Later