Nigerian Newsday

Below is the full text of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s address at the 3rd meeting of the Presidential Committee on Tourism, held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Thursday August 5, 2004.

I am delighted to be here with you in Lafia, Nasarawa State, for the 3rd Meeting of the Presidential Council on Tourism (PCT). I warmly welcome all our Governors as well as other distinguished members of the Council who have traveled from far and near to Lafia for this very crucial meeting. Let me also express my appreciation to our host, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, for the hospitality and warm reception. He deserves special commendation in view of the fact that not minding the short notice of the request made to him to host this meeting, he willingly accepted.

This third meeting of the Council affords us the opportunity to assess the journey so far on the road towards the development of the tourism industry which is one of the six priority sectors highlighted in the on-going effort at economic regeneration and development. It is my honest view that we are not moving fast and seriously enough. Indeed, we appear to be doing more of talking and the sort of fast-paced, focused and comprehensive transformations that I had anticipated are not yet evident. This is without prejudice to efforts made thus far in related sectors of the economy. Tourism, like agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing etc., is a potent and veritable tool for social and economic transformation and, if properly packaged, promoted and marketed, it could generate much needed foreign exchange for the country, create employment opportunities, and serve as a tool for poverty eradication. There are nations in the world that rely almost exclusively on revenues from tourism. This is in addition to the infrastructural, human capital development and other institutional benefits that accompany the growth of tourism. If we know of these benefits, why are we not moving more stridently? Why is the private sector still very tentative in grabbing the tourism bull by the horns? Allow me to, once again, urge state governments to pursue much more seriously the exploitation of resources that offer them comparative advantages in the area of tourism.

Nasarawa State, like most of the states of the federation, is not an oil-producing state. But it is endowed with a resource that can be harnessed in the interest of the people of the state and the nation at large: such as the Farin Ruwa falls which, if properly developed and effectively managed, could generate substantial revenue for the state. The good thing about this resource is that it is not a wasting asset and it is environmentally friendly. On this note, I would like to commend Governor Abdullahi Adamu on the achievements which his Administration has recorded within the last five years in offices in the tourism and cultural sub-sector as enumerated in his welcome address. On our part, we will ensure that Nasarawa State, like others that show genuine and sustained interest in tourism, is supported, especially in partnering with private investors and relevant non-governmental organizations to assist in its effort to develop the industry through the provision of infrastructure at the tourist sites already identified by the state.

Unlike other well-known tourist destinations in Africa that depend on one or two tourism products, Nigeria is richly blessed with an array of tourism products ranging from her peoples, culture, geo-morphological layout and, flora and fauna, to our beautiful all-year round weather. It is imperative that we do not just talk and plan endlessly on how to take full advantage of these bountiful blessings. The time to act is now.

The main thrust of Government policy on tourism is to generate foreign exchange, encourage even development, promote tourism-based rural enterprises, generate employment and accelerate rural-urban integration and cultural exchange. This will result not only in the promotion of national integration, but also contribute towards Government’s efforts at wealth creation and poverty eradication. The various State Governments, most of which have great tourism potentials, are encouraged to buy into the Federal Government’s pro-active tourism development initiative to boost the industry in their respective states.

Opportunities that abound in Nigeria for Eco-tourism do not enjoy the required level of private sector participation. The private sector, as I indicated earlier is still fairly lethargic in its perception of, and approach to tourism as a major revenue earning sector. We need investments in this area in order to attract foreign investors. Our own investors must be seen to be appreciative of their natural resources and be demonstrative of the economic value of the sector. This is one major issue that this meeting of the Council must address. We should be able to work out mechanisms for engendering, enhancing, and promoting those ideals that are a sine-qua-non for a thriving tourism industry. These include a sound democratic political structure; adequate infrastructure and social services; a good communication system; and friendly and honest people. Once we create an enabling environment, consolidate our democracy, rehabilitate infrastructure, and turn around the attitude of Nigerians towards effective and efficient service delivery, we would have done our part in promoting the development of tourism. I am pleased to note that we are making steady and sustained progress in these areas. With the right mix of resolve, focus and single-minded dedication on the part of the PCT, I am confident that we will do even more.

Once again, I welcome all our distinguished participants to Nasarawa State for the third meeting of the Presidential Council on Tourism. I wish you all happy deliberations.

Thank you and God bless.