Stakeholders in Nigeria's tourism sector have called on both federal and state governments to institutionalise travel and tourism development policies to ensure continuity beyond political administrations. They emphasised the need to deliberately develop tourism as a major driver of economic growth, investment, infrastructure development, and job creation.
Fayemi's Call for Institutional Framework
Speaking at the International Tourism Summit 2026, organised by the Oyo State Government, former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, urged state governments across Nigeria to embed tourism development policies within institutional frameworks. He noted that tourism has become a strategic instrument for economic transformation, cultural diplomacy, and global positioning. Fayemi warned that many tourism initiatives in Africa fail because they are tied to individuals rather than institutions, stressing that sustainable tourism development succeeds only when vision is translated into policy, systems, and enforceable institutional frameworks capable of surviving political transitions.
Ekiti's Experience
Drawing from his experience as governor between 2010 and 2014 and later from 2018 to 2022, Fayemi explained that tourism development in Ekiti was built on long-term planning, infrastructure development, and private-sector participation. He recalled that upon assuming office in 2010, Ekiti had only two functioning hotels and several untapped tourism assets, including the Ikogosi Warm Springs, Arinta Waterfalls, and the hills of Okemesi, Erio, and Efon. He stated: “The graveyard of our country’s tourism is not littered with bad ideas. It is littered with good ideas that were never institutionalised or carefully executed. These were not just beautiful places; they were untapped economic opportunities.”
Building Systems, Not Projects
The former governor said his administration focused on building systems rather than isolated projects, adding that the state developed legal frameworks, investment structures, and institutional policies to drive tourism growth. Fayemi stressed the importance of continuity in governance, warning that many government projects collapse when succeeding administrations abandon initiatives started by previous governments.
Makinde's Assurance on Continuity
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, assured investors that the state is building institutional frameworks capable of sustaining projects beyond his administration. According to him, long-term investments require continuity, institutional frameworks, and practical execution rather than political promises. “What happens after this administration? Will policies continue? Will agreements be honoured? Those are valid questions. We are not just initiating progress; we are building structures that can sustain it,” he said. The governor disclosed that the state had signed a 15-year concession agreement with SystemSpecs for the management of Bower’s Tower as part of efforts to attract private investment into tourism infrastructure.
Structured Approach in Oyo
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Oyo State, Wasiu Olatunbosun, said the state government is adopting a structured and coordinated approach to tourism development. He noted that tourism development in the state is no longer treated as isolated events and festivals, but as a core component of economic planning requiring collaboration across ministries and agencies. According to him, Governor Makinde had constituted an inter-ministerial committee comprising the ministries of Environment, Works, Lands, Water Corporation, and Justice to ensure effective coordination. Olatunbosun disclosed that the state had prioritised strategic tourism assets for development, including Eleyele Lake, which he described as a “Tier 0 asset” for structured investment. He added that Bower’s Tower had already been concessioned to private investors in a deal valued at N5 billion.
Beyond Attractions
Secretary of the Planning Committee, Abigail Anaba, said tourism development must go beyond showcasing attractions to building structures, governance systems, and sustainable economic frameworks. According to her, tourism economies are not built merely on the existence of attractions, but on deliberate planning, coordination, and institutional frameworks that ensure long-term value creation. She explained that Oyo State has, over the past three years, shifted its focus from promoting tourism assets to building a properly governed tourism economy capable of attracting investment and generating sustainable revenue.
