Nigeria Needs Investment In Tourism To Boost Economy – Lai Mohammed

Lai Mohammed

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has urged federal and state governments to prioritise tourism. He recently said that Nigeria must deepen private-sector partnerships to drive growth, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, tourism is a viable alternative revenue source that is capable of contributing significantly to national development if properly harnessed.

He concluded by stressing the need for an enabling environment and incentives to attract private investment into the creative industry.

His words, “What we need is for both state and federal governments to give more incentives to investors in tourism and the creative industry. You can never go wrong.

As we speak, there is no single purpose-built event centre in Nigeria. Davido plays to 20,000 at the O2 Arena. Is there anywhere in Nigeria that can take 20,000? The answer is no.

Tourism is not just about destinations. We can’t compete with East Africa; they have safari. We can’t compete with Southern Africa; they have Kilimanjaro and waterfalls.

What they don’t have is our culture and festivals. Imagine what the UK would do with an Ojude Oba festival?”

WOW.