The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy (FMACTCE), Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, on Wednesday paid a working visit to the headquarters of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) in Abuja. He was accompanied by directors from the ministry.
Dr. Muhammad described the NTDA as a strategic institution at the heart of Nigeria’s tourism ecosystem, stressing that the success of the sector depends largely on the agency’s ability to deliver on its mandate.
“NTDA is vital to this sector. Everything we do—whether in art, music, culture, or creativity—culminates in tourism. We must work together to make Nigeria the next leading tourist destination,” he stated.
The Permanent Secretary emphasized collaboration rather than competition among sister agencies, urging NTDA to prioritize low-hanging opportunities, drive initiatives, and leverage Nigeria’s cultural diversity for tourism promotion. He also encouraged the adoption of public-private partnerships (PPP) and innovative financing, noting that limited government funding should not be a barrier to progress.
Responding, Mr. Ovie Esewhaye, the Director overseeing the Office of the Director-General, NTDA, thanked the Permanent Secretary for his support and acknowledged the need to scale up the Authority’s efforts.
He outlined several ongoing projects and reforms, including:
- Finalization of regulations to strengthen the NTDA Act.
- Digitization of accreditation, grading, and classification processes for Hospitality and Tourism Establishments (HTEs).
- Partnerships with ECOWAS and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria on national tourism standards.
- Promotion of the Tour Nigeria brand across festivals, exhibitions, and seminars.
- Plans to operationalize the Tourism Departure Levy and Tourism Development Fund with FAAN, Immigration, and other stakeholders.
- Establishment of the Convention and Visitors Bureau to market Nigeria as a MICE destination.
- Strengthening of the National Travel Bureau to package tours effectively.
- Improved tourism data collection through digital dashboards aligned with CBN and UN standards.
- Partnership with the LetsGoNigeria App to provide a one-stop platform for tourism information nationwide.
Mr. Ovie assured that the NTDA remains committed to positioning Nigeria as a globally competitive tourism hub, anchored on innovation and the Tour Nigeria brand.
