MINISTER OF ART, CULTURE, TOURISM AND CREATIVE ECONOMY DIRECTS NIHOTOUR TO SUSPEND ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS NATIONWIDE

 

Abuja, Nigeria — The newly elected executives of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), led by President Dr. Badaki Aliyu, paid a courtesy visit to the Director of Private Sector at the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Tony Luca Elumelu, as part of the activities of the FTAN Executive Council Retreat held in Abuja. The engagement underscored the federation’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and driving tourism transformation across West Africa.

Welcoming the delegation, Mr. Elumelu assured FTAN of the commission’s support for private sector stakeholders in the tourism industry. He noted that the ECOWAS Private Sector Directorate consists of two key divisions—the Investment and Financial Matters Division and the Business Development Division—while also highlighting the role of ECOTOUR in building capacity through training for tourism professionals. “The ECOWAS Commission remains committed to collaboration and capacity building in the tourism sector across the region. Our doors are always open to industry practitioners, and we are ready to support initiatives that will drive growth and development,” he stated.

In his remarks, Dr. Aliyu expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded to FTAN’s new leadership. He emphasized that the federation’s fresh mandate is focused on repositioning tourism in Nigeria and strengthening regional ties. “This new leadership of FTAN represents not just a movement but a clear mandate to vigorously drive the growth of tourism in Nigeria. We are determined to leverage the opportunities within ECOWAS to empower our members and strengthen our industry,” he said. He further appealed for ECOWAS support in organizing comprehensive training programs for FTAN council members and called for renewed intervention in the affairs of COPITOUR, the regional tourism body.

Responding to this appeal, Mr. Elumelu assured that ECOWAS will continue to play its role in strengthening COPITOUR, while advising FTAN to adopt a scorecard system to evaluate past achievements and build on them. “We will do all we can to support COPITOUR and ensure that tourism remains a driver of regional integration. It is also important for FTAN to ensure that only capable hands are nominated to benefit from ECOWAS training opportunities,” he added.

The visit marks an important step in building stronger ties between Nigeria’s tourism private sector and regional institutions, as FTAN positions itself as a leading voice in shaping tourism development across West Africa.

FTAN SECRETARIAT