The Federal Government has approved the establishment of Tourism and Cultural Economic Zones in Nigeria’s six geopolitical regions and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in a renewed effort to unlock the country’s vast creative and tourism potential.
Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, disclosed this yesterday, while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Musawa explained that the initiative would serve as regional hubs for culture, creativity, and tourism, harnessing the distinct strengths of each region to position Nigeria as a leading global destination.
“The Council today approved the establishment of Tourism and Cultural Economic Zones across the six geopolitical zones and the FCT. These zones will leverage the peculiar strengths of each region in areas of culture, creativity, and tourism,” she stated.
According to her, the zones will be developed in collaboration with state governments through Memoranda of Understanding, allowing each state to showcase its unique cultural and tourism assets in line with the national vision.
The minister cited international models such as Mexico’s Cancun and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ula as examples of successful destination-based tourism clusters. She noted that sites like Obudu, Yankari, and Coco Beach would be developed as flagship destinations under the initiative.
Musawa also announced the adoption of two national tourism brands — Naija Season and Detty December — as platforms to promote domestic and international tourism. Naija Season, created by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), captures the essence of Nigerian festivals year-round, while Detty December has evolved into a globally recognized cultural movement from Lagos.
To boost the December festive season, she said President Tinubu approved the creation of a Presidential Task Force on Detty December to coordinate efforts among key ministries such as Aviation, Interior, and Power, ensuring Nigeria’s readiness as a premier holiday destination.
Additionally, FEC approved the reconstitution of the Presidential Council on Tourism Promotion and Investment, chaired by President Tinubu and co-chaired by Musawa. The council will drive inter-ministerial collaboration to strengthen Nigeria’s global image through tourism, arts, and cultural diplomacy.
Musawa further revealed that the government has endorsed a new Intellectual Property (IP) framework to protect creators and enable them to use their IPs as collateral for financing.
“These approvals mark a major step toward transforming Nigeria’s creative and tourism industries into key drivers of economic diversification under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” she affirmed.
