Unlike crude oil, with all economic benefits associated with it, that offers the nation a lifeline, yet remain a major drawback on our quest for greatness.
Oil is responsible for about 60 percent of government revenue, contributing 9.5 percent to the nation's GDP one of the lowest among OPEC countries.
Such statistics necessitate exploration of other avenues of generating revenue for a government that is in desperate need of funds outside loans to function effectively and efficiently.
Infrastructure deficiency being an important sector that should get funded, if Nigeria has the dream to be counted among nations of the world.
# Agriculture is staging a great come back with about 22 percent of the GDP, as more of the harvests gets processed, the impact turn further along a positive curve.
# Information and Communication Technology sector is fast developing providing 14.7 percent of national GDP.
# Real Estate at 6 percent of GDP is not doing too badly.
# Manufacturing, another major pivot the national economy rested upon in the past has no business with 12 percent of the GDP, room for improvement actually exists.
# Trade which contribute 16 percent of the Gross Domestic Product is a reason Manufacturing is struggling. Infrastructure provision is a major catalyst for all round growth across several sectors.
Tourism in Africa is touted by World Travel and Tourism Council as the second largest growing industry in the world, as travel to the continent becomes cheaper and easier, while governments drive business tourism with new initiatives. Nigerian government, especially at different states can key into this and attract a good amount of potential 67 million travelers that journey to Africa.
Of about $1.34 trillion world tourism spending, $194.2 billion comes to Africa.
South Africa and Egypt top the list of nations of Africa that mops up substantial chunk of the spending.
Of top ten tourist destinations in Africa that includes:
1. South Africa.
2. Egypt, recovering from a terrible era of uprising.
3. Morocco.
4. Mauritius , the small island county.
5. Tunisia, shaking off the Arab spring period.
6. Kenya.
7. Algeria, after the bad spell.
8. Tanzania.
9. Ethiopia.
10. Nigeria, a nation having the largest Gross Domestic Product in Africa, across all sectors.
A nation of 200 million population.
Having about 250 ethic groups each having unique cultural festivals a list not limited to the listed:
Agemo festival, Ìjèbú-Igbó.
Argungun festival, Kebbi.
Calabar festival, Calabar.
Egúngún festival, Òtà.
Ekímògún festival, Ondo.
Ekpe festival, Akwa-Ibom.
Ekpe festival, Uzairue.
Ekuechi festival, Ebira, Kogi.
Èlúkú festival, Ìkòròdú.
Gèlèdé festival, Ajílété-Yewa.
Igogo festival, Òwò.
Igue festival, Benin.
Lísàbí festival, Abéòkúta.
Mare festival, Ìdànrè.
Ofala festival, Onitsha.
Ogidi festival, Kogi.
Òkèbàdàn festival, Ìbàdàn.
Olójó festival, Ilé-Ifè.
Ojúde-Oba festival, Ìjèbú-Òde.
Orò festival, Ìséyìn.
Òrónnà festival, Ìlarô.
Òsun Òsogbo festival, Òsogbo.
Sàngó festival, Òyó.
Beautiful tourist sites of world standard and appeal are abound across all states of Nigeria.
Abia:
Azimini Blue River that turns green when rain falls.
National War Muzeum, Umuhahia.
Long Juju Shrine, Arochukwu.
Adamawa:
Mandara Mountains.
Koma Hills.
Lamorde Hot Spring.
Akwa Ibom.
National Museum of Colonial History.
Ibeno Beach.
Bridge of No Return.
Anambra:
Ogbunike Cave.
Agulu Lake.
Ogba Ukwu Cave and Water Fall.
Bauchi:
Yankari Games Reserve.
Wikki Warm Spring.
Tunga Dutse.
Bayelsa:
Akassa Wildlife Forest.
Okpoama Beach.
Mangrove Creeks.
Borno:
Biu Plateau.
Chad Basin National Park.
Lake Allau.
Cross River:
Kwa Water Fall.
Obudu Cattle Ranch and Resort.
Cross River National Park.
Delta:
Red Mangrove Swamp, Warri.
Otuogu Beach, Asaba.
Warri Kingdom Royal Cemetery.
Ebonyi:
Golden Sand Beach, Ozziza.
Okposi Salt Lake.
Amanchor Cave, Afikpo.
Edo:
Okomu National Park.
Benin Moat.
Okonni Wildlife Sanctuary.
Ekiti:
Ikogosi Warm Spring.
Esa Cave, Iyin-Ekiti.
Ero Dam and Lake, Ikun-Ekiti.
Enugu:
Ezeagu Tourist Complex.
Awhum Cave and Water Fall.
Iheneke Lake.
Gombe:
Gombe Hills.
Dadin Kowa Dam.
Lame Burra Game Reserve.
Lagos;
Lekki Conservation Center.
Takwa Bay Beach.
Casa, Ilashe.
Nasarawa:
Pandam Wildlife Park.
Eggon Hills.
Farin Ruwa Falls.
Ogun:
Olumo Rock, Abeokuta.
Ebutte Oni Beach, Oni-_Ijebu
Second Storey Building in Nigeria, Ota.
Ondo:
Indanre Hills.
Igbo Olodumare, Oke-Igbo.
Igbokoda Water Front.
Osun:
Osun Oshogbo Groove.
Erin Jesha Water Fall.
Ipetu-Ijesha Forest Reserve.
Oyo:
Old Oyo National Park.
Ado Awaye Suspended Lake.
IITA Forest, Ibadan.
Imo:
Ngwu Spring Natural Water.
Oguta Lake.
Njaba River.
Kaduna:
Kamuku National Park.
Matsiriga Water Falls.
Kagoro Hills.
Kano:
Dala Hill.
Tiga Dam.
Kofar Mata Dyeing Pit.
Katsina:
Jibia Holiday Resort.
Kusugu Well, Daura.
Gobaru Minaret.
Kebbi:
Kanta Museum, Argungu.
Girmache Shrine, Zuru.
Tomb of Abdulahi Fodio.
Kogi:
Obangogo Mountain.
Lokoja Confluence.
Mount Patti.
Kwara:
Owu Water Fall.
Imoleboja Rock Shelter.
Asa Dam.
Jigawa:
Birnin Kudu Rock Painting.
Hadejia Wetlands.
Wawan Rafi Lake, Kazaure.
Niger:
Zuma Rock.
Gurara Water Falls.
Kainji Lake National Park.
Plateau:
Shere Hills.
Jos Wildlife Park.
Wase Hills.
Rivers
Upper Orashi Forest Reserve.
Finimah Beach and Nature Park.
Port Harcourt Tourist Beach.
Sokoto:
Goronyo Dam.
Gilbadi Rocks.
Tomb of Uthman Dan Fodio.
Yobe:
Dagona Birds Sanctuary.
Dokshi Spring Water.
Yusufari Mini Desert.
Zamfara:
Kwaimbana Forest Reserve.
Tomb of Namoda, Kaura Namoda.
Kiyawa City Walls.
Nothing stops each state of the Federation to look inwards and leverage on the advantage Nigeria is blessed with to make Nigeria a dominant force in African tourism.
The pandemic and its devastating effect will soon be a thing of history, no doubt.
We have to be preparing for post COVID-19 era.
Alternative energy sources are fast making Crude Oil less attractive.
The Arabians have been preparing ahead of time for a period revenue from Oil will decline. The signs are obvious.
We experienced a glimpse at the onset of the pandemic.
The Federal Government should go a step further to encourage each states to look more inwards and depend less on funds from the Federation account.
Tourism generate substantial amount of employment. The private sector collaborative efforts should be worked out.
Insecurity and Infrastructure challenge should be aggressively tackled by all tiers of Government, for this initiative to be meaningful.
© Layi Deinde 2020.
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