The Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has called for more investment and collaboration by the private sector to transform the tourism industry in Nigeria.
Musawa made the call at the 9th Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE 2026), organised by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) under the theme “Tourism Transformation Through Collaboration, Policy Alignment and Investment”.
The minister commended FTAN for sustaining the forum as a platform for tourism investment, policy engagement and business development.
She said the federal government could not single-handedly finance the scale of transformation required to reposition Nigeria’s tourism sector, stressing the need to create an environment that would attract and sustain private investment.
“Government alone cannot finance the transformation Nigeria desires,” Musawa said, adding that the government’s responsibility was to build the “confidence, predictability and transparency” needed to make tourism investment viable.
She identified four key priorities guiding the government’s approach to tourism development: effective policy and regulation, stronger partnerships with state governments, international partnerships, and the development of a robust domestic tourism market.
Musawa also expressed appreciation to FTAN and NTIFE stakeholders for recognising her contributions to the sector, describing the recognition as a reminder of the collective responsibility required to build Nigeria’s tourism economy.
She urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions and translate ideas into practical commitments, bankable investments, and strategic partnerships capable of reshaping the country’s tourism landscape.
According to her, Nigeria’s long-term ambition should be to position the country as Africa’s preferred tourism destination.
She called on government, investors, and other stakeholders to work together to unlock the sector’s economic potential and create a tourism industry capable of delivering sustainable opportunities for future generations.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
