Exploring Nigeria’s tourism potential

Summer is here again, and Nigerians are expectedly already visiting foreign embassies in large numbers in their quest to obtain visas to overseas’ countries for one reason or the other.
While changing their wardrobes is the priority of most of these Nigerians, also catching some fun at the tourist attractions of their destinations is another vital item of their trips.
Interestingly, they pay to visit the tourist sites, which in Nigeria, are free of charge and to a large extent, neglected.
Consequently, while these foreign tourist centres and their owners are smiling to the banks, their Nigerian counterparts are begging for funds, as well as, attention.
However, there are indications that huge patronage for the local tourism industry could happen if only the sites could be developed to meet international standards.

With the advent of oil boom in Nigeria, the focus of revenue generation in the economy had shifted from cash crops to the ” black gold”,- crude oil. This created a mono-product economy. But with the fluctuation in the oil market and attendant fears that Nigerian’s wells might dry up soon, the authorities decided to look for alternative sources of revenue generation.
Luckily, this campaign has been taken to the next level by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The government’s campaign for the diversification of the economy so as to generate more money in the economy, has besides agriculture and mineral resources, emphasized Tourism.
Tourism would place Nigeria at par with other African countries like South Africa, Ghana and Kenya, which are already boosting their reserves from the product.

Recently, the Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Nogie Meggison paid a courtesy visit to the Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr. Folorunsho Coker at the Tourism Corporation’s headquarters in Abuja, in a bid to promote domestic tourism in Nigeria; and encourage Nigerians to spend their holidays or weekend breaks within Nigeria.

Coker expressed his readiness to form a strong synergy with Airline Operators of Nigeria to ensure development and promotion of the Nigerian Tourism industry.

NTDC boss said the key component to tourism, which according to him are travel, accommodation and entertainment/hospitality, would be explored with the airlines, hotels, car hire services, tour operators and others to bring out affordable package tours to encourage Nigerians to tour Nigeria.

The NTDC boss, who also called for a conscious investment in the promotion of domestic tourism, however appealed that in the value chain of tourism, state and local governments and the private sector should work together and be ready to drive the market with a new brand: TOUR NIGERIA.

Sadly, lack of funding by the government has been advanced by critics as reason the vast natural and cultural heritage remained hampered for several years.
However, observers say that tourism deserves to be given the same attention as oil and gas for the diversification for Nigeria product project to be meaningful.

For some people, if the hidden treasure in the Tourism sector were to be to maximum potential, they would not only generate revenues, but create jobs for the army of unemployed youths, and curb crimes.
For instance, if the numerous tourist sites in the northern parts of the country were developed enough to create gainful employment for the locals, perhaps insurgency would not have been an option for the youths.

They reasoned that the government has started the campaign in earnest for Nigeria to advance it’s economy by emulating countries, such as ,South Africa and Ghana in patronizing domestic tourism. Ghana and South Africa have both immensely invested in tourism, after which they handed it over to the private sector to manage, to ensure that these natural endowments are harnessed.
Today, it was learnt, these two African countries have started enjoying the dividends of their Tourism adventures.

The former Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo has pointed out that, although, Nigeria has a better advantage over many other countries, but it is not fully benefitting from her tourism potential.

Mrs. Mbanefo, who made the observation in Enugu, Enugu State capital during the 2015 World Tourism Day tagged: “1 Billion Tourists, 1 Billion Opportunities,” was optimistic that the sector would get its needed attention in years to come.

With population advantage and 10 per cent contribution to global economy, Mrs. Mbanefo stated that, for tourism to thrive in Nigeria, government should lay more emphases on privatisation.

The then NTDC boss had said that, the corporation, under her administration, would ensure practical development and promotion of domestic tourism, explaining that such step would propel job creation, develop the nation’s economy, as well as, raise social awareness on cultural preservation among others.

Today, the Nigeria government has provided an enabling environment for interested foreign investors and private individuals to invest in the country’s tourism industry for sustainable and profitable returns. To that effect, the government has adopted a number of incentive, strategies and is ready to provide infrastructure facilities.

Historically, Nigeria has about 700km of unpolluted sandy beaches, eight national parks and about 10 game reserves. The National Parks include, Chad Basin located in Borno and Yobe, which covers about 2,258 square kilometres; Cross River Bashi-Okwongo and Oban Forest Reserves, which cover about 4,000 square kilometres; Gashaka- located at Adamawa and Taraba States, about 6,731 square kilometres-known as, Nigeria’s most ecologically diverse conservation area. Kainji located in Borgu and Zuguma Game Reserves in Kwara and Niger States, as well as, the Kainji Dam, located on about 5,382km2 area. Furthermore, there is a Kamuku Park located in Kaduna, about 1,121km2; Okumu, in Edo state-about 2,513km2; Old Oyo, located in Oyo and Kwara, which covers about 2,512km2: it is easily accessible , rich in plants, animals and cultural resources; and Yankari Game Reserves in Bauchi, covering about 2,244km2. Yankari is the most popular Reserve in Nigeria, because of it’s beauty, size and accessibility.