The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has assured the government of Nasarawa State that the ministry will do everything possible to assist the state develop its tourism.
The Minister who spoke after inspecting the Farin Ruwa waterfalls in Wamba LGA of the state, “We are going to explore the possibilities available, for instance if there is any fund available like from the UN, World Toursm Organisation under the rural tourism, if there is any assistance they can give us either in a way of consultancy or funding.”
The Minister who was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Emmanuel Akabe stressed the importance of infrastructure to the development of tourism.
“What we have seen here is quite enthralling and to that extent, I think the trouble is very much with it .
“As I have always said, one of the key to opening tourism potential anywhere in the world is infrastructure and I think nothing confirms this with what we have all gone through today.
“It is important for us to invest in infrastructure so that this wonders of the world will be made available to everyone. The government cannot do it alone and I want to take the opportunity to invite the private sector to invest in building infrastructure that will lead to places like this.
“It might be very heavy infrastructure at the beginning but at the end of the day such infrastructure will be worthwhile.
“Clearly what we need now is the road infrastructure leading to this place and I think the private sector must not join the race when we are almost there. This is the time for them to come because from this location, it will be almost impossible to make a day trip which means if you bring your family here you will likely want to keep the night. Therefore, motels and recreation centres will be very viable here.”
He therefore called on the private sector to invest in infrastructure.
“I also want to call on the private sector to look at how they can make use of the funds they have for corporate social responsibility and invest it infrastructure such as roads that will lead t places like this.”
“Nasarawa is not just a state for agriculture, but a state also with huge potential for mining and I want to call on the big businessmen that are into agriculture and mining that society will be kind to them if they can plough back some of their profits to open up touists attractions such as the Farin Ruwa Falls. It will not take too much from them and they will make back their money in terms of concession, adverts and since they are aking so much from the community I think it is only fair for them to give back somethingback to the community.
“Without infrastructure, we are going to lose to the world, this kind of tourism site.”
The minister also douse the fear of insecurity affecting the site, saying, “I don’t see this as an issue. When we are coming here, you could see at many points that we were welcomed very warmly by the locals and the communities. You can see their enthusiasm. They will protect every tourist that comes here. They know that the more tourists the more infrastructure and money for them the more tourists the more jobs for their children. So, I don’t really have any concerns at all about security.You can see that all the way, as soon as we entered Wamba Local Government, we were welcomed very warmly by drumers and dancers on the road which shows that they are only waiting for investors and they will be ready to protect any tourist that will come.”
The Deputy Governor on his part said the state is endowed with lot of potentials and therefore urge the minister to help market the state tourism potential.
He said, “This is an area that we are planning to turn to tourists haven not only for the Nasarawa people but for Nigerians, Africans and the world as a whole.
“We believe that there are a lot of potentials here in the state to be harnessed and sometimes last year, on behalf of the Governor I paid a visit to the minister and told him about this fall and he promised that if the state makes arrangement, he will come personally with his crew to promote the falls.
“We believe that what you have seen is quite exciting and intriguing and we believe that we need to put resources together to turn this around to a tourists’ haven.
“We believe that the Minister with his acumen, having come here he will take it up and together with the state and the federal government we can bring the best out of this place.
“There are a lot to be derived here in terms of the economy, getting young ones engaged and also for relaxation.”
