The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Arts Culture Tourism and Creative Economy (FMACT&CE) Dr Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, MFR mni has commended the Overseeing Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) Mr Esewhaye Richard Ovie for his proactive Leadership in steering the Agency towards achieving its overall mandate.
Dr Muhammad gave the commendation during a scheduled visit to the NTDA headquarters in Abuja where he was accompanied by top management staff and heads of department from the ministry. The visit provided an opportunity to deliberate on issues of mutual interest, the Agency’s operational challenges and strategies for advancing the nation’s Tourism sector.
Key areas of discussion included Tourism development initiatives, the identification and promotion of tourism sites across Nigeria’s 36 states and plans to show case these destinations to attract millions of domestic and international visitors.
“NTDA has greater role to play in making Nigeria a top tourism destination not only in Africa but across the globe,” Dr Muhammad emphasised.
The Permanent Secretary further engaged the NTDA Leadership on the Agency’s plans priorities and challenges reiterating the ministry’s commitment to strengthen collaboration in line with the Federal Government Renewed Hope Agenda.
Responding, Mr Richard Ovie outlined the broader mandate of the NTDA which includes regulating promoting marketing and developing hotels and restaurants nationwide. He disclosed that the Agency’s reviewed regulations would soon be submitted to the ministry for scrutiny and necessary action.
Highliting recent achievements, Mr Ovie noted that:
1 NTDA accreditation is now fully digital.
2 Grading and Classification of hotels would soon be concluded digitally.
3 plans are underway to open an account for the Tourism Development Fund through the Office of the Accountant General and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
4 NTDA is exploring public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements to drive tourism development.
5 The National Tourism Bureau a subsidiary of the NTDA will be further strengthen.
6 Work is in progress to further develop a reliable and comprehensive tourism statistical database.
7 NTDA is creating a mobile tourism information “app” to serve both domestic and international tourists.
The session concluded with questions- and- answers segment on the NTDA mandate and ongoing projects.
Signed
Chindaya Ahmadu
Director Information and Public Relations.
Federal Ministry of Arts Culture Tourism and Creative Economy.
September 26, 2025.
