Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Tourism, Hon. Arc. Muhammad Muktar, has assured that all plans are on to strengthen the laws to regulate tourism sector, so as to attain sustainable growth and help make it thrive.
He gave the assurance at the 2026 National Hospitality and Tourism Stakeholders’ Forum, with theme: “Shaping the Future of Nigerian Tourism Together”.
He said the legislative arm is there to make laws that will shape the tourism industry and make it a sector that will drive the economy and improve the GDP of the economy.
“We have a bill that will make tourism and tourism related matters unto the concurrent list. Before it was on residual list and this is what gives us bottlenecks because the states are in charge,” he said.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) Ola Awakan said the forum was not merely a ceremonial gathering, “it is a strategic convergence point designed to foster dialogue, strengthen alignment, and catalyze actionable outcomes for the growth of the tourism sector.”
He said tourism, both globally and within our national context, thrives on a tripod framework consisting of attractions, hospitality, and transportation.
He said the attractions represent rich natural endowments, cultural heritage, festivals, and creative assets, while hospitality defines the quality of experiences and services provided to visitors; and that transportation ensures accessibility, connectivity, and ease of movement across destinations.
“The effectiveness of our tourism sector is therefore dependent on how well these three pillars are developed, integrated, and managed.
“Nigeria is undeniably endowed with immense tourism potential. From our diverse ecological landscapes to our vibrant cultural expressions and globally recognized creative industry, we possess the assets required to become a leading tourism destination.
“However, it is also important to acknowledge that the sector has not yet attained its full potential. Challenges such as fragmented institutional coordination, infrastructural deficits, limited global visibility, and inconsistencies in regulatory frameworks have constrained growth.
“Notwithstanding these challenges, we are at a pivotal moment in our journey, supported by renewed policy direction, growing private sector interest, the “renewed hope agenda” of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and the enabling provisions of the NTDA Act, 2022, which provides a stronger legal and institutional foundation for transformation.
“We are strengthening the policy and regulatory framework to ensure clarity, consistency, and investor confidence, while also enforcing compliance across the tourism ecosystem.
“At the institutional level, we are building capacity to create a more responsive, efficient, and result-oriented organization capable of driving reform and innovation. In the area of tourism marketing, we are repositioning Nigeria’s image through targeted campaigns, strategic partnerships, and increased participation in global tourism platforms.
“We are also emphasising research and development by promoting data-driven decision-making to guide planning, policy formulation, and investment strategies.
“Furthermore, we are facilitating tourism investment and infrastructure development to unlock the full value of our destinations, while also prioritizing human resource development to enhance professionalism, skills, and service delivery across the sector.
“Quality assurance remains central to our efforts, as we are committed to ensuring standards through systematic inspection, certification, and continuous monitoring of tourism enterprises,” he said.
