Nigeria Tourism Sector year 2015
in review By Tunde Oguntola
As the dawn breaks on 2016, a year
pregnant with so many possibilities in the Nigeria tourism sector TUNDE OGUNTOLA takes a cursory look back at the activities of the sector
which has very little achievement to show in the just concluded year For the Ministry of Information and Culture it is 17 years of existence so far, and is like one step forward,
two steps backward. Since former President Olusegun Obasanjo created it in 1999, the Ministry remains a weeping child swimming in waters filled with daunting challenges.
Stakeholders in the tourism sector have canvassed for sustainable culture and tourism for economic growth. The tourism industry provides about 266 million direct and indirect jobs globally, hence most developed countries rely heavily on it for economic and manpower
development.
However, the industry is yet to realise its full potential in Nigeria due to the absence of domesticated tourism information management system meant to evaluate and monitor
development in the sector, and inadequate tourism infrastructure. Setting agenda for the tourism sector in 2016, the President, Institute of
Tourism and Hospitality Services, Mr Fadipe Ashamu has urged the federal government to promote the cultures of Nigeria, describing them as major drivers of the tourism and a catalyst for economic growth and jobcreation.
Mr Ashamu in an interaction with journalists on the sideline of the recent workshop on 'Mainstreaming Tourism into the Economic Agenda of Government' in Abuja, said that oil revenue could no longer provide resources to meet the growing and
competing demands of the nation, hence the need to explore tourism as an alternative source of revenue for the government.
But in spite of the sector daunting challenges, influences of
modernisation and Western religions. Nigeria has one or the other that has refused to lose total relevance in tourism despite poor funding by the
government.
The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had in a series of meeting with stakeholders in Abuja assured that the federal government will reposition the tourism sector; hence, hopes are high that the nation will begin to make tangible progress in line with
global objectives in the tourism which have suffered neglect over the years from previous administration.
The minister has also assured
that the ministry will leverage on the cultural industry of the nation to employ unemployed Nigerians, especially the youth. He said that the
federal government has earmarked N500billion in the 2016 budget to help young people who intend to
acquire skills and trade.
However, there is no state in the country that has no tourist attraction for tourists; the problem being how they are harnessed. This is where the
challenges come in but in all, Cross River State seems to be the tourism heaven of Nigeria because it has the highest number of tourism areas that are well funded and supported by the
state government, heavily promoted and developed and seem to attract both local and foreign or international tourists as far as Nigeria and tourism development is concerned.
Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade described the annual Calabar Carnival as the "largest street party in Africa". The governor, who made the remark during the 11th Calabar Carnival 2015 grand finale, noted that the festival is unique in
promoting talents and unity among Nigerians.
Gov Ayade pointed out that apart from promoting talents and creativity, the carnival had united the
people of Cross River and other Nigerians.
Among the cultural festivals highly regarded in Nigeria and the South West region in particular is the Osun/Osogbo Festival. No thanks to the
rampaging Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) then, the 2014 edition of the Osun Osogbo Festival was a low-keyed. But the 2015 edition was celebrated amid pomp and fanfare. Nigerians and people in the Diaspora came in their large numbers to
witness the 10th edition of the festival, which has continued to grow in leaps and bounds.
Business activities was at its peak as indigenes made brisk sales from their souvenirs, while devotees thronged to the Osun River with gallons to fetch the water, which, they believe, has powers to heal the sick and make barren women pregnant. Gunshots were fired into the air as part of the celebrations heralding the festival,
while various masquerades danced to the gallery.
Also, the rich history of Argungu dates back to 1934 has been neglected for some years now,
the neglect of the festival has been disastrous for the local economy, which gets a boom during the festival; local fishermen, who dream of winning the festival and the prizes; the fishes, which die because the river becomes overcrowded, no fishing is allowed when the
festival is not on.
The neglect of the facilities used for the festival, as the state government did not maintain it, leaving it to decay. Thus, as the new administration promises a revamp of dormant sectors, hopes are high that the nation will begin making tangible progress in line with global objectives in the tourism which have
suffered neglect over the years from previous administration.
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