By Hyacinth Eku, Abuja
The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) has reiterated the urgent need to harness the country’s vast tourism potentials as a major driver of economic diversification and sustainable development.
Mr. Ovie Richard Esewhaye, Director overseeing the Office of the Director-General, NTDA, made the call during his presentation at the 2025 Ministerial & Sectoral Retreat of the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.
Delivering a paper titled “A Bird’s-Eye View of Nigeria’s Tourism Sector and its Contribution to Economic Diversification,” Esewhaye emphasized that Nigeria can no longer rely solely on oil as the backbone of its economy.
He highlighted the country’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.
“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,” Esewhaye said.
However, he noted that several challenges militate against the sector’s development, including constitutional limitations, inadequate funding, lack of skilled manpower, insecurity, and poor infrastructure. To overcome these challenges, Esewhaye called for urgent policy reforms and strategic actions, including the establishment of a Tourism Development Fund, placement of tourism on the Concurrent Legislative List, promotion of community-based tourism enterprises, and development of a cooperative marketing strategy.
The NTDA director emphasized that tourism development requires joint efforts between all tiers of government, the private sector, and host communities. 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 concluded 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 right strategy and partnerships, Nigeria’s tourism sector has the potential to become a pillar of economic growth, environmental conservation, and national pride.
