Tourism in Nigeria

TOURISM, OUR PRIDE, OUR HERITAGE ^{www.ipaidabribenaija.com}

Hausa traditional music troupe.

The Home of Hospitality

Nigeria is becoming a destination for tourists and investors because of new regulations put in place by the government through the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission. A foreign tourist once described Nigeria as the country of a thousand festivals and tourist attractions. This is not far from true when one takes a look at the natural endowments spread throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria. Although largely under-utilized, Nigeria offers one of the most attractive destinations to any tourist worldwide. No state in Nigeria is without abundant tourism potential. With such a wealth of tourist attractions, both natural and manmade. Government, through the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, (the NTDC), realized that great potential exists for earning foreign exchange. Some countries, such as South Africa, have fully diversified its economy to the point where tourism now rivals mining in its contribution to the country's GDP.

As an emerging African country in a market-driven economy, Nigeria has correctly identified tourism's ability to catapult it into the first rank of emerging world market economies. The Nigerian government, through the relevant agencies, has consistently treated this sector as one of the priority sectors that can drive the engine of the economy. This is accentuated in the Vision 20-20-20 project, which intends to see Nigeria's economy ranked among the top 20 economies in the world by 2020.
The recently accelerated rate of development in tourism warrants significant attention. There has been increased investment in hotels, resorts and infrastructure, as well as major heritage conservation projects, leading to social and environmental transformations on a multinational scale.
From the grassland areas of Northern Nigeria like Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Katsina, through the middle belt known geographically as the North Central areas of Jos, Makurdi, Minna and Lokoja to the Southern cities of the Delta region of Calabar in Cross River State, Asaba in Delta State, Port Harcourt in River State and Uyo in Akwa Ibom State to the Western cities of Lagos, Oshogbo and the ancient city of Ife, many exciting tourist attractions can be found. These include beautiful ancient archaeology, exotic fauna and flora, amazing waterfalls, beaches, wildlife, rivers, alluring mountain ranges, zoological gardens, great opportunities for fishing enthusiasts and masquerade festivals which can be described as cultural spectacles.
Besides her natural features, it is estimated that Nigeria's cultural assets are among the most attractive in the whole world. She has over 250 ethnic groupings within its geo-polity, and each of them is identified with a unique cultural heritage.

THE BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Badagry is a town close to Lagos, Nigeria's former seat of power. It provides an ideal setting for the hosting of the Black Heritage Festival. The presence of significant historical sites, relics of the slave trade, cultural artefacts and other tangible articles associated with slave trade adds to its relevance for this role. The festival is a rallying point for realizing the yearnings and aspirations of the separated people of African descent in the Diaspora, to be reunited and integrated into their lost African environment, roots and connections. The high point of this ceremony is the initiation, where prominent traditional rulers in Nigeria initiate visiting Africans from the Diaspora in an African setting into the tribe in which they intend to be initiated, which can be one of more than 250 ethnic tribes. It is a colourful festival of reunion.

THE ARGUNGU FISHING FESTIVAL

In the months of February and March every year, tourists from all walks of life assemble in the ancient town of Argungu in Northern Nigeria, which is about 64 miles from Sokoto, to catch a glimpse of how young fishermen use traditional and rudimentary methods to catch the largest fish. During the festival, hundreds of locals engage the river armed with large fish net scoops and gourds to drive the fish close to the shallow parts. This festival has its origin from August 1934 when the late former Sultan, Dan Muazu made a historic visit to Kebbi, where a grand fishing festival was organized in his honour. To this day, the ceremony is preserved and the State Government has added a modern colour to it in order to attract tourists.

Argungu fishing festival, Kebbi.

SUKUR WORLD HERITAGE SITE

This is Africa's first cultural landscape, located in Adamawa State. Sukur lies on the Nigerian side of the Mandara-Cameroon borderlands on an undulating plateau ranging from 1,000- 3,000 feet above sea level. It occupies a landmass of 764.40 hectares. The Sukur Cultural landscape, which is natural, incorporates a unique selection of vernacular architectural features such as stone corratis, grave yards, stone gates as well as delicately fashioned stone grain huts and unique stone settlement clusters with homestead farms, all in the midst of rare species of flora and fauna. It is a must-visit for every tourist.

CROSS RIVER NATIONAL PARK

The name Cross River is synonymous with tourism in Nigeria. This park incorporates the Northern Okwangwo portion and the Southern Oban Hills division. It is internationally recognized as one of the most important sites for the conservation of biological diversity. More than 1,000 plants of different species have been identified at Cross River National Park. The forest contains several endangered species of wild animals, the most noticeable being the lowland gorilla, the drill chimpanzee, the red colobus and the forest elephant. Several species of birds threatened by extinction, such as the red headed rock fowls, are also found in the park. It is an hour's drive from Calabar Municipality.

CALABAR BEACH

The beach is located at the mouth of Calabar River and is uninhabited, save for a solitary fisherman's hut. Flanked by a swamp, it can only be reached by boat or canoe and getting there is half the fun. Its sheer isolation enhances one's fascination with this enchanted locale. It lends visitors the luxury of privacy in a beautiful setting.

OGUTA LAKE RESORT

This attractive complex is situated about 40kms from Owerri, the capital of Imo State. Largely underutilised, it features a large body of clean fresh water, the second largest natural lake in the country after Lake Chad. It has these unique attractions that distinguishes it from other resorts around the area.