Pulse Opinion: It is time for Nigeria to focus on tourism

Let us forget about oil and find a way to make Nigeria a tourism haven.

A multi-ethnic country such as Nigeria should be tapping into the potentials of tourism.

With an array of tribes, there's a lot of colourful cultures to showcase both to ourselves and foreigners. Nigeria is still stuck with oil.

Ever since Nigeria started exporting oil in large quantities other sectors of the economy were neglected. Well, oil hasn't made transformed many cities in Nigerian to Dubai.

 

Now, with the world turning to alternative means of energy, the days of relying only on oil are numbered. It is time we take a hard look at tourism. With so many cultural sites, Nigeria should be a tourism haven. The country is far from that.

The tourism industry in Nigeria is blocked by unnecessary governmental approval and red tape. Last year, Fu'ad Lawal who embarked on a 36 state journey around the country encountered so many obstacles. His attempt to visit and document several cultural sites were met with roadblocks. He was told to write letters to state ministries for approval to record in cultural sites.

ALSO READ: The Badagry people of Lagos

Many states are sitting on gold mines but due to lack of vision and political will of their leaders, they live hand to mouth waiting for their monthly allocation from the federal government.

Lagos could do more with slave sites in Badagry, Ogun state with Olumo Rock and Bauchi with Yankari Game Reserve. There are many other states who could tap into goldmines.

 

This is not a new idea. In 1999, a young man by the name of Donald Duke would become the Governor of Cross River state. One of the main aims of his administration was to focus extensively on tourism.

During his 8 years, he made Calabar the tourism capital of Nigeria. Donald Duke who was a recent guest on Loose Talk podcast spoke about why he chose to focus on the tourism potential of his state.

"I needed people to come in. We have great sites. Obudu Ranch is amazingly beautiful. We have a very hospitable culture. It's a beautiful state. It's scenic- the rivers, the mountains and all that, it is beautiful. Above all, because of the innate nature of the people, tourism would thrive as it did" explains the former Governor.

ALSO READ: The seven wonders of Ado-Awaye

In his conversation, he stated how people in Calabar were making money off tourism.

"People were making money and that changed the mindset. I know a lady till date who makes a tanker load of zobo and on the day of Carnival, she is just selling it. She says it is the amount of money she makes on that day is what takes her through the year" he said.

Calabar is a recent example of how states can profit from tourism. Unfortunately, the tourism efforts from the subsequent administrations in Cross River dwindled.

Heading towards a new decade, states and the Federal Government should look at tourism as a huge source of revenue for the country.