FG tasks NTDC to generate 3.5 percent of GDP

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has mandated the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to grow the Tourism sector’s revenue to account for 3.5 percent of the country’s GDP. The Minister who noted that the sector is “grossly untapped” said the industry currently accounts for 1.24 percent of the country’s GDP which he […]

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has mandated the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to grow the Tourism sector’s revenue to account for 3.5 percent of the country’s GDP.

The Minister who noted that the sector is “grossly untapped” said the industry currently accounts for 1.24 percent of the country’s GDP which he notes is abysmally poor.

He gave the order during the week, when he visited the office of the NTDC, one of the agencies under his ministry on a working visit.

Nigeria recorded a 5% GDP from travel and tourism in 2018, and although the figure fluctuates substantially, Alhaji Mohammed said the Corporation is sitting on a “cake of unexploited potential” and has the capacity to harness, attract, and promote the country’s tourism sector to generate more revenue.

“Your organization must attract tourists to see what Nigeria can offer on a global stage. Your acts mandate you to market, promote tourism in Nigeria by bringing tourists from outside to see what we have been blessed with. The Tourism sector is the fastest growing sector in Nigeria, and has generated over one million jobs. It has the capacity to generate more,” he said, adding that “in the nearest future, creative industry will be the next oil of Nigeria because it will always remain fresh, so it is very pivotal.”

Speaking earlier, the Director General Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Folorunsho Coker said the corporation was working on a tourism satellite account and the corporation was working in collaboration with states, private sectors and international bodies to help meet its mandates.