…designates Aso Rock, Jabi Lake, Maitama, others as tourists’ sites

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA- STAKEHOLDERS across Nigeria’s tourism and real estate sectors have launched a bold, infrastructure-led push to transform the country into a competitive global tourism destination, with Abuja selected as the pilot city for the initiative unveiled this week.

The move, in alignment with the National Infrastructural Tourism Development Initiative, NITDI, was formalised at a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signing in Abuja, bringing together public and private sector players to unlock Nigeria’s cultural, historical and natural assets while driving investment, job creation and sustainable urban growth.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director, Tourism Volunteers Network, Phil Roberts, said the framework is designed to close long-standing gaps in the sector by shifting focus from isolated tourist sites to fully developed destinations supported by infrastructure.

He explained that Abuja has been designated a “Living Infrastructure Tourism City,” serving as a model for nationwide replication, with clearly defined zones such as Aso Rock as an iconic hub, Jabi Lake as a waterfront destination, Maitama and Asokoro for luxury tourism, and Mpape, Katampe, Bwari and AMAC for adventure and agro-tourism.

He also noted that the initiative draws lessons from global tourism leaders where infrastructure has been central to growth, stressing that Nigeria must adopt a similar model to compete internationally.

He said: “A tourism site remains static, but it becomes a destination when supported with infrastructure such as roads, electricity, housing, internet, food systems and security.”

He further stressed the need for stronger collaboration with regulators, particularly the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, to provide policy direction and unlock financing for investors constrained by limited access to capital.

“With the right infrastructure, Nigeria can become a destination the world comes to see,” he said.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Big Homes Nigeria, Topsy Essien, said the real estate sector is critical to delivering the experiential value required to attract and retain tourists under the new framework.

Meanwhile, according to Essien, ongoing developments in Jabi, Dakibiyu and Durumi are being structured as integrated ecosystems that combine housing, healthcare, recreation and commercial services to create destination-style communities.

He added that adopting architectural designs that reflect Nigeria’s culture and climate would strengthen the country’s uniqueness and global appeal, positioning its cities as immersive tourism hubs rather than just places to visit.