Senator Ben Murray Bruce has asked President Buhari and the 36 state governors to do their holidays in Nigeria instead of going outside the country. According to him, this will help bring International focus to the various tourist attractions we have in Nigeria and in the long run help improve our economy. What he wrote on his Facebook wall below…
Nigeria’s elected leaders are legally entitled to paid holiday and typically they take these holidays in exotic foreign holiday destinations. But the world is changing. Nigeria is changing. And as Nigerians, we have to adjust our behaviors so that they make economic sense in today’s world.
Instead of vacationing overseas, why can’t our leaders vacation at scenic and beautiful Nigerian locations such as Yankari Games Reserve in Bauchi, Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River or Mambilla Plateau in Taraba or even the Gashaka Gumti Games Reserve, also in Taraba? I have holidayed in these places and they are as beautiful as any holiday location anywhere in the world. Our economy is facing challenges. We need to be looking at non oil resources and tourism is one area we can make a honest buck. But which tourist would come to Nigeria if our own elite refuse to holiday here? Consider the history of The US and The UK.
Their leaders habitually spend their vacations within their nations. It is a rarity for them to holiday overseas. US President Barrack Obama recently returned from his vacation to Hawaii while British Prime Minister had his last vacation in Cornwall in The UK. Our leaders, be they the President or any of the 36 state governors, are the chief marketing officers for the nation and their states.
Their presence in a local holiday resort or attraction draws the attention of the world. Since they have such capital, should they not spend it in Nigeria rather than abroad? And it is not just leaders who should so act. All of us should begin to patronize local tourist attractions. Tourism fetches South Africa over $5 billion annually and $1 billion in Kenya. In Nigeria, tourism is so insignificant because we do not make enough efforts to attract tourists.
Our Naira is nose diving and the only way to salvage the situation is to‪#‎BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira‬.
My name is Ben Murray-Bruce and I just want to make ‪#‎Commonsense‬!