House Committee vows legislative push to unlock Nigeria’s tourism potentials
Maureen Aguta
The House of Representatives Committee on Delegated Legislation has pledged stronger legislative backing for Nigeria’s tourism sector, signalling renewed parliamentary interest in positioning tourism as a driver of economic growth, national branding and job creation.
The commitment was made during a familiarisation visit to the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) by the Committee, led by its Chairman, Rt. Hon. Richard Olufemi Bamisile, PhD.
Speaking during the visit, Bamisile said the engagement was both timely and strategic, noting that the Committee is statutorily responsible for overseeing regulations, guidelines, orders and other instruments issued by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure they reflect the intent of enabling laws, support good governance and do not impose unnecessary burdens on citizens.
He described the Committee as a vital link between legislative intent and executive implementation, stressing that the visit was not designed as a fault-finding mission but as an effort to build partnerships, deepen understanding and lay a solid foundation for collaboration.
“Tourism is not merely about leisure; it is a powerful catalyst for economic growth, job creation, social cohesion and international diplomacy. It tells our story, shapes our image and unlocks opportunities in every corner of our nation,” Bamisile said.
According to him, the visit was aimed at gaining first-hand insight into the NTDA’s operational framework, achievements and challenges, reviewing existing tourism regulations and guidelines, assessing their interaction with broader legislative provisions, and understanding practical constraints ranging from funding and infrastructure to security and global competitiveness.
He assured the Authority of the Committee’s readiness to support the review of outdated regulations, advocate improved budgetary provisions and strengthen legislative frameworks to safeguard Nigeria’s heritage sites and intellectual property within the tourism ecosystem.
Responding, the Director-General of NTDA, Dr. Olayiwola Awakan, thanked the Committee for the visit and underscored the centrality of legislation to the Authority’s mandate.
“The success of NTDA cannot be written without legislation. It is the foundation upon which our mandate to regulate, develop and promote tourism in Nigeria rests,” he said.
Dr. Awakan described Nigeria as richly endowed with cultural, traditional and natural tourism assets, aligning NTDA’s work with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda and emphasis on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), with tourism identified as a priority sector capable of contributing meaningfully to GDP growth.
He outlined key implementation challenges linked to the NTDA Act, including the need for stronger alignment and coordination across the tourism governance framework, particularly amid evolving judicial interpretations on asset control at sub-national levels.
He referenced the Supreme Court judgment placing tourism assets under state jurisdiction, adding that ongoing efforts by the National Assembly to move tourism from the residual list to the concurrent list would enhance collaboration, provide policy clarity and support more balanced development of tourism destinations nationwide.
Since assuming office in October 2025, the Director-General said the Authority has intensified collaboration with sister agencies, states and the private sector, recognising tourism as a private sector-driven industry.
He cited partnerships with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to digitise airport tourism information desks, engagements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to showcase market-ready destinations through Nigeria’s foreign missions, and collaboration with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to strengthen NTDA’s visibility at airports.
Dr. Awakan also disclosed ongoing partnerships with states including Katsina, Nasarawa and Niger, while identifying funding as a major constraint, noting that countries that invest strategically in tourism are already recording measurable gains.
He further highlighted initiatives such as the inauguration of a public-private sector committee to coordinate Nigeria’s participation in international tourism expos, and the launch of the Naija Flavour Project in December 2025 to promote Nigeria’s food, arts, fashion, music, theatre and cultural identity globally.
While acknowledging that the NTDA Act of 2022 is still undergoing activation and refinement, the Director-General expressed confidence that sustained legislative support would close existing gaps.
“With your support and collaboration, we are confident that tourism in Nigeria will soon deliver tangible results for the economy and national development,” he said.
The visit ended with both the Committee and the NTDA reaffirming their commitment to sustained engagement and cooperation aimed at unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s tourism sector for economic prosperity and national pride.
