FG plans tourism, creative sector growth with 7-star hotel,

Nigeria is intensifying efforts to reposition its tourism and creative economy as a major revenue earner, with plans targeting a $100 billion contribution to GDP by 2030, as the Federal Government explores private sector financing for landmark hospitality and entertainment projects.

The vision is anchored on a partnership between the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, which has opened discussions on a pipeline of large-scale tourism infrastructure projects to be delivered through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

The engagement, held in Abuja between ICRC Director-General Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh and the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa recently, focused on high-value projects including a proposed seven-star hotel, a modern concert and entertainment arena, and the rehabilitation of national museums for cultural tourism.

The talks also explored potential collaboration with global streaming giant Netflix on film production, talent development, and training initiatives aimed at expanding Nigeria’s creative industry footprint.

Ewalefoh said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader infrastructure-driven development agenda, stressing that tourism assets are now being prioritised as economic infrastructure rather than lifestyle projects.

According to him, “The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is heavily driven by infrastructure development, and tourism infrastructure is no exception. The Commission is committed to ensuring that all viable projects within the tourism and creative economy sector receive the necessary regulatory support required to move from concept to implementation within record time.”

He added that the ICRC has reformed its PPP processes to make them more efficient and investor-friendly, while still maintaining strict standards on transparency, compliance, and due diligence.

On her part, the Tourism Minister, Hannatu Musawa, said Nigeria’s tourism and creative sector holds enormous untapped economic potential but continues to suffer from weak infrastructure that limits its global competitiveness.

She noted that the administration is banking on strategic investments to unlock the sector’s full value, projecting that it could contribute up to $100 billion to the economy by 2030 if properly harnessed.

“Nigeria is known for its music, fashion, and food, yet we do not have the infrastructure to host the world. Our people travel to other countries for major entertainment events, and that represents a huge loss of economic value for Nigeria,” she said.

Musawa further emphasised the need for world-class hospitality and entertainment facilities in Abuja and other major cities, noting that such assets are critical to attracting global tourism, events, and investment.

The discussions highlighted a broader shift in government thinking, with PPPs increasingly positioned as the preferred mechanism for closing infrastructure gaps and repositioning Nigeria as a competitive tourism and creative hub in Africa and beyond.