Tourism in Nigeria: The Race to the Concurrent List — Chibuikem Diala

Is Nigeria accelerating tourism reform—or rushing past the real issues holding the industry back?

Yesterday 31 March 2026, at the National Hospitality and Tourism Stakeholders Forum in Abuja, the effort of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) was evident—bringing together voices that truly matter in shaping the future of the industry.

However, one voice stood out with clarity, courage, and depth Alhaji (Dr.) Aliyu Badaki, the President of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN). He did not just speak as a stakeholder; he spoke with the composure of a statesman and the insight of a seasoned industry leader.

One of his most profound positions centered on the ongoing legislative conversations around the NTDA and National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Acts. His recommendation was bold and unambiguous: both Acts should be withdrawn, reviewed, and re-presented as fresh bills, given the conflicting provisions and controversial elements embedded within them. It was a position that underscores a deeper truth—policy reform in tourism must be intentional, inclusive, and aligned with the realities of industry operators, not just administrative convenience.

On the constitutional front, the Chairman of the House Committee on Culture and Tourism provided important insight into the thinking behind the proposed bill to move tourism from the Residual List to the Concurrent List, a bill that has already passed second reading. During his engagements, he had questioned the consistently low budgetary allocation to the tourism sector and was informed that tourism is largely domiciled within the states, making federal intervention and structured funding more difficult. It is this structural limitation that informed the push for the bill.

But in this apparent race to reposition tourism within the Concurrent List, a more fundamental question emerges: is tourism’s position on the Residual List the real bottleneck—or are we overlooking more fundamental challenges hindering the industry’s growth? 

So, what should we be thinking about going forward?

• Are we designing policies with the industry or merely for the industry?
• Will increased federal involvement translate to real sector growth—or more bureaucracy?
• How do we balance federal structure with state-level ownership and execution?
• Are we solving the funding problem—or creating new layers of control?
• Most importantly, are we building a tourism ecosystem that can truly compete?

In response to the broader legislative direction, Dr. Badaki made a defining and courageous statement that should resonate across the sector: any bill that undermines the growth and sustainability of the tourism industry will be firmly resisted.

This is where the conversation must evolve. Tourism in Nigeria is not just a cultural asset- it is an economic engine, a job creator, and a strategic tool for national development. Any legal or institutional reform must reflect this reality. The real task before policymakers is not merely to reposition tourism within constitutional frameworks, but to ensure that whatever structure emerges genuinely enables growth, empowers operators, encourages investment, and strengthens collaboration between federal and state actors. The communities must not continue to suffer on the platform of political exigencies. 

The NTDA forum, ultimately, must serve as more than a gathering- it should be a wake-up call. The tourism sector cannot afford to be passive at a time when critical structural decisions are being shaped. The future of tourism in Nigeria must be deliberately strengthened, widely inclusive, and built on collaboration—not reduced to transactional policy adjustments or institutional control. This is a defining moment, and the industry must stay alert, engaged, and ready to influence the direction it takes.

^{Chibuikem Diala FITPN MIH is a Hospitality Development Strategist/Founder IHTEF. Email: govchibuikem@gmail.com}