The Nigerian Economic Summit Group [NESG], a non-profit organisation that presents itself as a policy advocacy think tank, has recently attracted significant criticism from stakeholders within Nigeria’s tourism sector.
At the heart of the controversy is the NESG’s alleged role in the dismantling of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Many industry professionals view the organisation’s subsequent efforts to craft a national tourism policy framework as both presumptuous and misguided; an attempt enabled by its erstwhile close ties to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Adding to the frustration is the NESG’s recommendation of a minister whose tenure was widely regarded as ineffectual, marred by policy blunders and administrative missteps. The abrupt dismissal of the minister last year was soon followed by the eventual scrapping of the tourism ministry itself, a decision that has left the sector adrift, lacking both direction and strategic leadership.
What many stakeholders perceive as the NESG’s undue influence over policymakers and political actors has highlighted a deeper problem: its clear lack of expertise, practical experience, and understanding of the tourism sector. Unlike other policy areas, tourism demands a nuanced and context-sensitive approach, as well as, one that considers local realities, possibly continental and global trends. In these critical areas, the NESG appears woefully ill-equipped.
Rather than collaborating with seasoned stakeholders to develop a tourism policy rooted in real-world needs and sectoral knowledge, the NESG is accused of leveraging political proximity to push its own agenda. This top-down, exclusionary approach has further distanced practitioners and contributed to the vacuum currently paralysing the sector.
Already beset by insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, and negative international perceptions, Nigeria’s tourism industry now faces these challenges without a coherent policy framework.
The fallout from NESG’s involvement raises urgent questions about the appropriate role of non-profit think tanks in public policy formation. Should organisations lacking demonstrable expertise in a sector be permitted to shape policies with such profound implications for jobs, livelihoods, and national development?
What steps must tourism stakeholders take to reclaim their role in the policy-making process? And what safeguards can be instituted to prevent future policy derailments driven by access to political corridors rather than competence and insight?
If Nigeria’s tourism sector is to recover and fulfil its considerable potential, a robust, inclusive, and evidence-based policy framework is vital. This framework must be developed with the active participation of experienced tourism professionals, community stakeholders, and international experts, but not steered by well-connected entities lacking a proven track record in tourism development.
The NESG must critically reassess its role, particularly in sectors where it holds no comparative advantage. It should aim to facilitate dialogue rather than dominate it, and support rather than supplant the voices of those with genuine expertise. Failure to do so risks compounding the damage already inflicted on a fragile but vital sector.
By Lucky George