Tourism Can Become Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange Engine, Says Air Peace Boss

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Dr. Allen Onyema, has urged Nigeria to aggressively promote its tourism assets globally, saying the sector has the potential to attract foreign visitors, generate foreign exchange and strengthen the country’s economy.

Onyema made the call during the 5th Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) held in Lagos, where he said Nigeria possesses numerous cultural and historical attractions that remain largely underdeveloped due to years of limited attention and investment.

The Air Peace chairman said tour operators and relevant stakeholders must take deliberate steps to showcase Nigeria’s destinations to the international community instead of allowing the country’s tourism opportunities to remain largely unknown.

“Nigeria should be intentional in promoting its tourist attractions to the world,” Onyema said.

He identified major cultural events such as the Durbar Festival in Northern Nigeria and the Calabar Carnival as examples of attractions that could draw visitors from across the world if properly packaged and marketed.

According to him, Nigeria has cultural experiences capable of competing with popular global tourism events but lacks the level of promotion and investment required to maximise their economic value.

“When they do carnival in the Caribbean, all of us will be running to go to the Caribbean for carnival. Calabar Carnival and Durbar Festival are so beautiful to watch,” he said.

Onyema also highlighted Nigeria’s traditional institutions and royal heritage as potential tourism assets, particularly historic palaces of traditional rulers across the country.

He suggested that with proper investment, some royal sites could be developed into cultural tourism centres where visitors could learn about Nigeria’s traditions, history and systems of governance.

“When you go to the palaces of the Emirs in the North, that is another thing to be sold to tourists. If the government and the private sector can invest into the development of those palaces, they will become money spinners, foreign exchange earners for the country,” he said.

The Air Peace boss argued that tourists are willing to pay for authentic cultural experiences, including opportunities to observe traditional ceremonies, history and indigenous practices.

However, Onyema expressed concern over what he described as negative perceptions about Nigeria, saying constant emphasis on insecurity has affected the country’s image among potential visitors and investors.

He acknowledged that insecurity remains a challenge but warned that portraying Nigeria only through the lens of its problems could damage tourism growth and economic opportunities.

“Let me shock you, insecurity is business for some people,” he said, adding that some foreign aviation personnel arriving in Nigeria often demand additional security arrangements because of concerns created by negative narratives about the country.

He said some foreign pilots, engineers and technical personnel often ask questions about security arrangements before accepting assignments in Nigeria.

According to Onyema, Nigeria must work harder to promote its positive stories and economic opportunities while addressing security challenges.

The Air Peace chairman called for greater patriotism among Nigerians, urging citizens and organisations to avoid actions that portray the country negatively and discourage tourism, investment and business activities.

He also praised the Federal Government’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, describing it as an initiative that could help unlock tourism opportunities by improving connectivity and access to coastal destinations.

Onyema said developing Nigeria’s tourism sector requires collaboration between government, private investors, tour operators and communities to transform the country’s attractions into sustainable sources of revenue and employment.