
Moving Tourism Forward in Africa’s most Populous Country and Largest Economy
Tourism is the life wire of the economy of a good number of countries in Africa. From the wildlife parks of East Africa and Southern Africa to the pyramids of Egypt, Africa’s fauna, flora, artifacts and cultural heritage have been a source of attraction to tourists; raking in millions of dollars in revenue.
Nigeria’s tourism industry is still developing compared to countries such as Egypt, South Africa, Kenya and Tunisia who all have vibrant tourism industries as evidenced in the number of arrivals into their airports. Though evolving, the tourism potential of Nigeria is huge; but largely untapped due to lack of government investment and underlying lack of enabling environment arising from socioeconomic issues such as poor infrastructure and security challenges.
According to the World Economic Forum’s ‘Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015’, Nigeria is not ranked among top 10 most tourism-ready economies in sub-Saharan Africa. But recent developments in the country’s tourism sector points to a reversal of the status quo. In the tourist sites highlighted below, one is sure to find developments that embody the modern trends in the country’s tourism industry.
The most remarkable rock in the country is the Olumo, situated in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South West Nigeria. Apart from the imposing nature of the rock (137 metres above sea level) which has a historic significance as a fortress for the Egba people during wartimes, the rock has natural tunnels, peculiar trees, broker pathways and the monuments of the indigenous belief system. To enhance the accessibility of the rock, the Ogun State Government constructed elevators in 2006. The elevators were built in to complement the iconic man-made steps built into the rock. Further infrastructural upgrades were embarked on to incorporate a new museum, restaurants and a water fountain.
Yankari Game Reserve in the North Eastern state of Bauchi is a standout wildlife park in West Africa. This recently improved game reserve has an array of exclusive animals such as the olive baboon, patas monkey, roan antelope, western hartebeest, West African lion, tantalus monkey, bushbuck, waterbuck and caracal cat. Apart from the wild animals, there are other attractions in the form of the several natural warm springs that dot the landscape of the reserve. The reserve plays a vital role in the illumination of tourism in the country. Originally created in 1956, it is estimated that the game reserve has hosted hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. This makes it the most popular tourists’ destination in the country.
The wildlife in the reserve was depleted due to poor management but in 2014, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), USA signed an agreement with Bauchi State Government for the co-management of the reserve. Since May 2015, no carcasses have been recorded in the reserve. Other improvements are evident in the effective ranger patrol system being used by WCS to curtail poaching.
If you want a taste of the country’s ancient art culture, visit Nok, Jaba Local Government in Kaduna state. All over the world, the antiquities from the ancient Nok settlement are seen in galleries and museums. This ancient settlement is well known for mirroring how people must have lived in the Iron Age as evidenced in the artifacts and colourful markings in the rock caves. The Nok culture was discovered through a British mining expedition in 1928 and afterwards hundreds of worldwide exclusive terracotta figurines were discovered on the site.
If you want an exclusive reserve located in twirling mountain tops adorned with lush vegetation, then make a stopover at Obudu Mountain Resort located in Cross River State near the country’s border with Cameroun. Here there are many wonders to tickle your fancy. Apart from the beautiful landscape of the resort, there is an amazing blend of warm and cold weather to be felt. You have the liberty to enjoy a nice ride on the cable cars stringed over the beautiful landscape. The cable cars (climbing over 2,850 ft) were deployed in 2005 to give visitors a scenic view of the mountains. You can participate in the Obudu Mountain Race which comes up every November. In 2018, the Cross River State Government entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Mac Reeds and Tom Consortium to take over the running of the ranch.
In case you desire to have a taste of wild adventures over the surface of glittering water that can be calm and wild, then look no further than the Tarkwa Bay Beach, located in the aquatic splendour that is the city of Lagos. Tarkwa Bay Beach is located in an exclusive island tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Lagos. It is the most ideal place for water-sport enthusiasts and surfers.
There is a perfect embodiment of culture and history, in the form of the Osun Sacred Grove, in Osun State, South West Nigeria. Situated along the banks of the Osun River, this sacred forest is classified as one of the UNESCO world heritage sites. The indigenes of Osun State, the Yoruba people believe that the Osun sacred grove is home to Osun — the goddess of fertility. The attraction in this sacred site includes the Osun Oshogbo shrine, effigies of different deities, 400 different species of plants used for medicinal purpose. You may choose to visit the grove in August when a festival is usually held to celebrate the fertility goddess.
If you want a strong feel of the country’s vibrant entertainment scene, make sure you visit the New Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos which celebrates Afrobeats, a genre of music made popular by the ingenious Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Every July to August, the New Afrika Shrine hosts the lively music festival — Felabration. Whilst there, do make sure to check out the photo gallery of Fela.
You may also want to relish some historic pre-colonial Nigerian architecture, located in the grassland savanna of Northern Nigeria in a city called Kano. Here you should ask for the imposing Kano City Wall. Historically encircling the Emir of Kano, the wall was completed in the 14th century as a defensive wall. The wall is 11 metres high and 9 metres thick with 15 gates. In this city, evidence of the once vibrant trans-Saharan trade can be seen in the array of travel animals such as donkeys, horses, and camels. Unfortunately, only about 25% of the wall is still standing due to encroachment. The city walls have undergone several renovations to prevent them from collapsing completely. In 2004, the German Government renovated some of the city gates. In 2014 during the administration of Dr. Musa Kwankwaso, some of them were also rebuilt and renovated. There are efforts to make it a world heritage site as it is listed on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Another attraction on the UNESCO tentative list of World Heritage Sites is the Ogbunike caves located in Ogbunike, Anambra State in the South Eastern part of the country. These caves are a landmark embodiment of historical and spiritual significance in a tropical rain-forest. The caves consist of intertwined tunnels leading to different directions. There is the main cave that holds all of them together. The waterfall inside one of the caves is believed by natives to have spiritual power. A lengthy walkway in the forest constructed by the Anambra State Government leads to the bat-laden caves.
With the natural resources available to be tapped, Nigeria has the potential to be a popular destination point for tourism in Africa. If the Economic Recovery Growth Plan of the present administration (which is aimed at aggressive infrastructural development) is properly implemented, the country is poised to be a great player in the tourism industry. The immense benefit of a developed tourism sector cannot be overemphasized — from the provision of jobs to actual growth in the country’s GDP. In Seychelles for instance, tourism accounts for 60% of GDP.
Furthermore, the adequate participation of the private sector in collaboration with the government would help to improve the present state of tourism in the country as stipulated in the country’s Tourism Master Plan (2006). A good reference point is the partnership between the Bauchi State Government and the Wildlife Conservation Society and the one between the Cross River State Government and Mac Reeds & Tom Consortium. Good enough, there is an enabling environment for Public Private Partnerships (PPP) to thrive in the country with the establishment of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission in 2005 and with a robust National Policy on Public Private Partnership (2009).
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed reinforced the call for Public Private Partnership to boost the tourism industry at the maiden edition of the National Tourism and Transport Summit and Expo which was held in May 2018. According to him, the recent developments in the transportation sector through government’s investments in the construction of new roads and maintenance of existing ones, the revival of the rail system, the refurbishment of airports and the construction of local and international airports would have a positive rippling effect on the development of the tourism industry.
In the past, national monuments and heritage sites have been left abandoned and made to rot due to poor government management and ineffective budgetary system. Through PPPs, the private sector would be given a veritable platform to partner with government to deploy capital and innovation into existing government tourist sites. Such investments would ensure better infrastructural development, efficient service delivery, higher turn-overs (to the benefit of the private and government party) and sustainability. This partnership will definitely translate into growth in the country’s economy and provisions of more jobs for the country’s teeming population.
