By Peter Omopo
The Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has called for increased private sector investment and stronger collaboration to transform Nigeria’s tourism industry.
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 promoting tourism investment, policy engagement and business development.
Musawa said the Federal Government could not single handedly finance the scale of transformation required to reposition Nigeria’s tourism sector, stressing the importance of creating an environment capable of attracting and sustaining private investment.
“Government alone cannot finance the transformation Nigeria desires,” she said, noting that the government’s responsibility was to provide the “confidence, predictability and transparency” required to make investments in the sector viable.
She identified four key priorities guiding the government’s approach to tourism development: effective policies and regulations, stronger partnerships with state governments, international partnerships and the development of a robust domestic tourism market.
The minister also acknowledged FTAN and other NTIFE stakeholders for recognising her contributions to the tourism sector, describing the recognition as a reminder of the collective responsibility required to build a sustainable tourism economy.
Musawa urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions and translate ideas into practical commitments, bankable investments and strategic partnerships capable of reshaping Nigeria’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 the government, private investors and other stakeholders to work together to unlock the economic potential of tourism and build an industry capable of creating sustainable opportunities for future generations.
