By Caleb Ayansina & Jonah Nwokpoke

ABUJA—President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, disclosed that tourism and culture would soon be the bedrock of Nigeria’s economy.

This came on a day the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aishat Abubakar, said the Federal Government was developing a holistic strategy to tackle the menace of smuggling, which is threatening the patronage of locally-manufactured goods.

President Buhari, who declared the 2016 National Summit on Culture and Tourism open in Abuja, described tourism as rejected stone that would be rejuvenated to address the dwindling economy of the country.

Buhari

Represented by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Okechuwku Enelama, the President said though culture and tourism sector was driven by private sector all over the world, government would provide conducive environment to encourage investment in the sector.

He said: “As a result of the combination of various factors such as the sharp drop in the price of oil, combined breakdown of protectionist policies and changes in social relations, countries are compelled to look for alternative sources of revenue and employment.

“Tourism, therefore, is a resource of development and means of providing an additional opportunity for a non-industrialised country as ours, to diversify its economic base for the betterment of all.

“Consequently, the road for us as a nation to achieve our set objectives of diversifying our economic base will depend partly upon the quality of design and implementation of tourism policies.

“We must develop appropriate policies and the right attitudes towards achieving the desired goals.

“We are aware that the development of the tourism sector all over the world is largely private sector-driven.

“However, as evident in the 2016 budget, this administration will continue to provide the required enabling environment for arts, culture and tourism to thrive and develop, through the massive upgrading of infrastructure and the provision of security.

“We will continue to encourage public and private sector participation and partnership.”