…Industry seeks policy reforms to unlock sector’s potential
ABUJA — Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, has urged tourism operators to embrace digital transformation, sustainability and quality service delivery to position Nigeria as a competitive destination in the global tourism market.
She made the call at the opening of the 9th Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) 2026 and the 29th Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) in Abuja, themed “Tourism Transformation Through Collaboration, Policy Alignment and Investment.”
Speaking on “Building a National Tourism Architecture for Nigeria,” Musawa said the country’s tourism industry must leverage innovation and strategic partnerships to achieve sustainable growth.
“To remain competitive, we must embrace innovation, digital transformation, sustainability and quality service delivery. We must develop tourism corridors, modernise visitor experiences, improve destination management and, above all, tell Nigeria’s story confidently and authentically,” she said.
The minister described NTIFE as one of Nigeria’s leading private-sector platforms for tourism investment, policy engagement and business development, commending FTAN for sustaining the initiative over the years.
According to her, the forum has consistently brought together policymakers, investors, tourism operators, development partners, financial institutions and state governments to shape the future of the industry.
She noted that the conference theme aligns with the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which identifies tourism and the creative economy as strategic sectors for job creation, investment attraction, foreign exchange earnings and national development.
Musawa said her ministry is implementing measures to strengthen the policy and regulatory environment, deepen collaboration with state governments, expand international partnerships and promote domestic tourism.
She urged participants to translate discussions into concrete investments and lasting partnerships capable of transforming Nigeria’s tourism landscape.
Also speaking, FTAN President, Dr. Aliyu Ajayi Badaki, called for greater unity across the tourism industry, lamenting the fragmented nature of the sector.
He said the Tourism Transformation Movement (TTM) championed by his administration was established to bring all stakeholders together under a shared vision for the industry’s growth.
“For too long, the public and private sectors have operated in parallel with little coordination, while operators within the private sector have often competed where collaboration would have delivered greater value,” he said.
Badaki noted that FTAN has continued to bridge the gap among stakeholders through dialogue, stronger engagement with governments and collaboration among member associations.
He maintained that a united industry remains the foundation for building a globally competitive tourism sector.
The FTAN president also renewed the federation’s appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to return the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Act 2022 and the 2025 Regulations to the National Assembly for review, arguing that some provisions require amendments to better reflect the interests of the industry and its operators.