Tourism: FG Turns to Diaspora to Rebrand Nigeria, Attract Investment

…NiDCOM, NTDA forge strategic alliance to transform tourism assets, project Nigeria’s positive image globally

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria has begun a fresh push to harness its vast tourism potential and the resources of its global diaspora as part of a broader strategy to reshape the country’s international image, attract investment and create jobs.

The initiative emerged from a strategic partnership between the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), with both agencies agreeing to work together to rebrand the nation’s tourism assets and position the sector as a major instrument of economic development and cultural diplomacy.

The partnership was unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday during a strategic meeting between the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and the Director-General of the NTDA, Dr. Olayiwola Awakan.

The meeting came against the backdrop of growing concerns over Nigeria’s failure to fully convert its vast cultural, historical and natural attractions into sustainable economic opportunities, despite the country’s enormous tourism potential.

Dabiri-Erewa said the country could no longer afford to allow its tourism assets and national story to be defined largely by outsiders or negative international narratives.

She said Nigeria must take ownership of its story, rebrand its tourism destinations and deliberately project the country’s positive identity to the world.

According to her, the collaboration between NiDCOM and the NTDA would strengthen the link between Nigeria’s tourism industry and the millions of Nigerians and people of Nigerian descent living across the world.

She said the diaspora represented not only a source of remittances but also a vast reservoir of investment capital, professional expertise, global networks and cultural influence that could be deployed to transform the nation’s tourism sector.

Dabiri-Erewa emphasised the need to develop and promote tourism assets across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, arguing that a coordinated approach would encourage domestic tourism while creating opportunities for international visitors.

She drew particular attention to the historic Badagry Door of Return Festival, which reconnects members of the African diaspora with the homeland of their ancestors and the painful history of the transatlantic slave trade.

The NiDCOM chief described the experience as one that carries deep spiritual, emotional, psychological, economic and historical significance.

“It is a spiritual, emotional, psychological, economic and historical experience. It cuts deep into their psyche as many shed tears as they pass through the slave routes,” she said.

For her, the emotional power of such historical sites represents an enormous opportunity for Nigeria to use tourism not only to generate revenue but also to promote healing, cultural reconnection and a deeper relationship with the global African community.

She urged the NTDA to sustain strategic partnerships with relevant government institutions, private-sector operators and diaspora communities, stressing that Nigerians must become the principal narrators of the Nigerian story.

“We must take ownership of our national narrative,” she said in substance, insisting that the country’s international image could not be transformed without a deliberate effort by Nigerians themselves to tell their own stories.

The NTDA Director-General, Awakan, said the agency was committed to repositioning Nigeria’s tourism assets and making them competitive with destinations around the world.

He said Nigeria possessed abundant cultural, historical and natural attractions but needed a comprehensive strategy to upgrade the assets, improve visitor experience and create an efficient tourism ecosystem.

Among the priorities, he identified the development of a professional tour guide system, improved standards for tour guides, the upgrading and beautification of tourism assets, tourism expos, increased private-sector participation, professionally designed tour packages and the development of tourism bureaus.

Awakan said the success of the sector would depend on stronger collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, local communities and Nigerians in the diaspora.

He also linked the development of tourism to wider national challenges, saying a vibrant tourism industry could create jobs, stimulate local economies, attract investment and help reduce social tensions by expanding economic opportunities.

The NTDA chief said Nigeria’s cultural strength was already evident in the numerous festivals, entertainment events and traditional celebrations held across the country.

However, he lamented that the country’s international image was often overshadowed by negative narratives, making it necessary for Nigeria to develop a more deliberate strategy for projecting its achievements, culture and identity.

He described Nigerians in the diaspora as key ambassadors of the country and said their strategic involvement could significantly influence how Nigeria is perceived globally.

As part of the new vision, Awakan disclosed plans for the proposed NAIJA FEST, a national festival expected to showcase the culture, cuisine, music, arts, traditions and heritage of all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The proposed festival is expected to create a single national platform for Nigeria’s cultural diversity while providing opportunities for tourism promotion, investment, entertainment and international exposure.

Awakan also disclosed plans for a proposed Diaspora Internship Initiative in the United Kingdom, under which Nigerians in the diaspora would be offered opportunities to undertake nine-month internships in Nigeria before returning to their countries of residence.

The initiative, he said, would expose participants to Nigeria’s professional, cultural and economic environment while strengthening their connection to the country.

The emerging NiDCOM-NTDA partnership represents a renewed effort to move Nigeria’s tourism sector beyond occasional festivals and isolated attractions towards a coordinated national strategy anchored on investment, cultural diplomacy and diaspora engagement.

With Nigeria facing the urgent need to diversify its economy, create jobs for its youthful population and improve its international image, the two agencies believe tourism can become a major pillar of national development if the country’s assets are properly developed, packaged and marketed.

The Abuja meeting ended with both agencies reaffirming their commitment to a closer collaboration aimed at transforming Nigeria’s tourism assets, attracting domestic and international investment and leveraging the Nigerian diaspora as a strategic partner in the country’s economic and cultural renaissance.

Tourism: FG Turns to Diaspora to Rebrand Nigeria, Attract Investment

Mother, Child Escape Boko Haram Enclave, Surrender to Troops in Borno

By Zagazola Makama

Two family members of suspected Boko Haram (Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad – JAS) terrorists have surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI after escaping from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains of Borno State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the woman, Nafisat Ali, 20, and her one-year-old daughter, Aisha Umar, surrendered at about 9:40 a.m. on July 13 to troops of the 192 Battalion (Motorised) deployed on picketing duty along the Gwoza–Limankara Road.

During preliminary interrogation, Nafisat disclosed that she fled the Kwolika terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains of Gwoza Local Government Area due to severe hardship and the lack of basic necessities in the camp.

The sources said the mother and child were immediately screened and documented in line with established procedures and are currently in military custody pending further profiling and necessary administrative action.

Military authorities said the surrender reflects the increasing pressure being mounted on terrorist enclaves through sustained offensive operations under Operation HADIN KAI, which continue to degrade the operational capabilities and support structures of insurgent groups in the North-East.

The sources added that the general security situation across the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, while troops continue to maintain a high level of operational readiness.

Mother, Child Escape Boko Haram Enclave, Surrender to Troops in Borno

A New Approach to the Fight Against Insecurity: Commendations to the DSS and Other Intelligence Agencies

By David Akoji

The recent safe rescue of the kidnapped teachers and pupils from Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State offers Nigerians renewed hope that the country’s security architecture is evolving beyond conventional methods. While many security successes often remain unknown to the public, this operation has provided a rare glimpse into the power of intelligence led policing and inter-agency collaboration.

For years, the fight against kidnapping has largely been viewed through the lens of armed confrontation. Although military strength remains indispensable, the Orire operation demonstrates that intelligence, strategic planning, patience, and psychological operations can be equally decisive in securing victory against criminal elements.

Reports surrounding the operation suggest that it was not a routine rescue mission but a carefully coordinated intelligence exercise. Rather than relying solely on force, security agencies reportedly invested weeks in gathering actionable intelligence, identifying the criminal network, tracking individuals connected to the kidnappers across several states, and carefully studying their operational structure.

This approach reflects a growing understanding that modern security threats require modern responses. Criminal networks thrive on secrecy, mobility and psychological advantage. Defeating them therefore demands superior intelligence, meticulous coordination and strategic thinking.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the operation was the apparent shift in psychological advantage. According to available accounts, once security agencies identified and secured relatives of members of the kidnapping network, the kidnappers reportedly realised that they no longer controlled the situation. Their confidence diminished as they faced increasing pressure from within their own circles. Appeals from family members reportedly encouraged the release of the innocent victims, demonstrating how intelligence can sometimes achieve what sustained confrontation may struggle to accomplish.

This is an important lesson in contemporary security management. Successful counter kidnapping operations are not always won on the battlefield. Many are won through painstaking intelligence gathering, patient surveillance, careful analysis and coordinated decision making long before the public becomes aware that an operation is underway.

Such outcomes deserve commendation.

The Department of State Services, the intelligence community, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies continue to operate under extremely difficult conditions. Their successes are frequently overshadowed by the unfortunate incidents that naturally attract greater public attention. Yet operations such as the Orire rescue remind us that significant victories are being recorded through professionalism, collaboration and improved intelligence capabilities.

Special recognition goes to Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, DG of the Department of State Services commendations should also be extended to Gen Christopher Musa Rtd, Minister of Defence and Nuhu Ribadu NSA for the coordination efforts within Nigeria’s national security framework. The Office of the National Security Adviser has consistently emphasized intelligence driven responses to emerging security threats, and operations of this nature reinforce the value of that strategic direction.

Equally deserving of appreciation are the numerous intelligence officers whose names may never appear in newspapers or television reports. Their work is largely invisible, often requiring months of surveillance, analysis, infiltration and coordination before tangible results emerge. Their sacrifices contribute immensely to national security.

The successful rescue of the Orire victims also sends a powerful message to criminal groups across Nigeria. It demonstrates that security agencies are increasingly capable of penetrating criminal networks, understanding their structures and employing innovative strategies that undermine their confidence and operational effectiveness. As intelligence capabilities continue to improve, kidnapping may gradually become a far riskier and less profitable criminal enterprise.

Nevertheless, one successful operation should not breed complacency. Intelligence agencies require sustained investment in technology, surveillance systems, forensic capabilities, communications infrastructure and personnel development. Enhanced collaboration among federal, state and local security institutions will also remain critical to sustaining these gains.

Citizens equally have an important role to play. Timely information sharing, community vigilance and public trust in security institutions remain indispensable components of effective intelligence gathering. Security is ultimately a shared responsibility between government institutions and the communities they serve.

The Orire rescue should therefore be celebrated not merely because innocent teachers and pupils regained their freedom, but because it represents an encouraging evolution in Nigeria’s approach to combating insecurity. It illustrates that intelligence, patience, precision and strategic coordination can produce outcomes that excessive force alone may not achieve.

As Nigeria continues its determined fight against kidnapping, terrorism and organised crime, the country must continue to strengthen its intelligence ecosystem while supporting the dedicated men and women who work quietly behind the scenes to keep our nation safe.

The rescue of the Orire victims is more than a successful security operation; it is a reminder that the future of national security lies not only in superior firepower, but in superior intelligence.

For this, the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency, Defence Intelligence Agency, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser and every security operative involved deserve the gratitude and commendation of a grateful nation.

David Akoji is Director, Special Duties/ State Operations at National Orientation Agency Headquarters

A New Approach to the Fight Against Insecurity: Commendations to the DSS and Other Intelligence Agencies