The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) has reiterated the urgent need to harness the vast tourism potentials of Nigeria as a major driver of economic diversification and sustainable development. This call was made by Mr. Ovie Richard Esewhaye, Director overseeing the Office of the Director-General, NTDA, during his presentation at the 2025 Ministerial & Sectoral Retreat of the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Asokoro, Abuja.
Delivering a paper titled “A Bird’s-Eye View of Nigeria’s Tourism Sector and its Contribution to Economic Diversification,” Mr. Esewhaye noted that Nigeria can no longer afford to rely solely on oil as the backbone of its economy. He stressed that tourism, accounting for nearly 10% of global GDP and projected to welcome 1.8 billion international arrivals by 2030, represents a critical growth sector for Nigeria’s future.
He highlighted Nigeria’s rich endowment of natural, cultural, and man-made attractions—including its over 850km coastline, diverse wildlife, heritage festivals, and world-class physical features such as Zuma Rock, Aso Rock, and Gurara Falls—as underutilized assets with the potential to generate employment, boost foreign exchange earnings, foster national integration, and strengthen local communities.
According to him: “Tourism is one of the most dynamic sectors of the global economy, and Nigeria’s vast but untapped resources provide us with an opportunity to reposition the nation for inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and international competitiveness.”
Mr. Esewhaye also outlined challenges militating against the sector, including constitutional limitations, inadequate funding, lack of skilled manpower, insecurity, and poor infrastructure. He emphasized that tourism development requires joint efforts between all tiers of government, the private sector, and host communities.
He called for urgent policy reforms and strategic actions, including:
- Establishment of a Tourism Development Fund (TDF) to support investors.
- Placement of tourism on the Concurrent Legislative List to enable joint development by federal, state, and local governments.
- Promotion of community-based tourism enterprises and MSMEs to create jobs and reduce poverty.
- Development of a cooperative marketing strategy and a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) to measure contributions to the economy.
- Strengthening of infrastructure, safety, and security around tourism sites.
Concluding, Mr. Esewhaye stressed that with the right strategy and partnerships, Nigeria’s tourism can become a pillar of economic growth, environmental conservation, and national pride. He urged stakeholders to work together to transform Nigeria into a leading African destination under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
The retreat came to a close with the signing of a performance bond by the Honourable Minister, the Permanent Secretary and Chief Executives of all agencies under the Ministry, signalling their commitment to the effective implementation of the Ministerial Deliverables and the Multi Sectorial Strategic Plan (MSSP) 2026 – 2030 with the ultimate aim of positioning Nigeria as a leading destination for cultural tourism and creative industry investment across Africa.