Tourism in the Development of Nasarawa State
Tourism in the Development of Nasarawa State
Speech by His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdullahi Adamu (Sarkin Yakin Keffi), Executive Governor of Nasarawa State on the Occasion of the 2003 World Tourism Day Celebration Holding at Farin Ruwa Waterfalls, Nasarawa State, Saturday, September 27, 2003
I am most honoured and elated to welcome you to Nasarawa State and this alluring venue of the 2003 World Tourism Day celebration involving all the 36 States and Abuja.
I particularly wish to welcome the Hon. Minister for Culture and Tourism whom I also use this medium to congratulate on his recent and well-deserved appointment as a Minster of the Federal Republic; and for finding time to grace this occasion.
I hope you enjoyed the thrill of the tortuous journey to Farin Ruwa Falls, the most fascinating falls in Nigeria, comparable only to Victoria Falls in East Africa.
The theme for this year’s World Tourism Day celebration, which is "Tourism: A driving force for poverty alleviation, job creation and social harmony" is most appropriate, especially at a time when most of our youths remain unemployed, not because of lack of opportunity; but more because of lack of enterprise.
As a result of the socio-economic importance of tourism, it is envisaged that if the tourism industry is developed, it will complement the oil industry in creating lucrative jobs, reduce poverty as well as create the infrastructural facilities required by our citizens and foreigners alike.
Here in Nasarawa State, tourism has been accorded prime recognition since the inception of the PDP elected democratic administration in May, 1999. In barely three months of our being in office as the first democratic administration in Nasarawa State, we saw the need to develop tourism as a matter of priority in cognizance of the enormous potentials which the State can exploit to its economic advantage. Accordingly, we established a separate Ministry for Culture and Tourism, after which a survey was conducted to identify and document tourist potentials throughout the State. I am pleased to note that among the findings of the survey group are the magnificent Farin Ruwa Falls, Peperuwa Lake, Keana Salt Village, Eggon Hills and Caves, Hunki Ox-bow Lake, Lafia Dyeing Pits, Doma Dam, Akiri Warm Spring and so many others.
From December 1999, when we took the first trip to Farin Ruwa, we realised that the access road leading to the falls terminated at Massange village, a distance of about 7 kilometers from this place. Government therefore directed the State Ministry of Works and Transport to construct an access road from Massange village to the falls. Soon after the access road was constructed, the State sought the services of foreign tourism experts from the United States to prepare a master plan for the development of this falls in February, 2001.
As part of the Government’s pragmatic approach to development issues and the upliftment of the rural communities, we quickly established a secondary school and built a clinic all in the bid to alleviate the plight of the host community around the falls. It is gratifying to observe that both projects are nearing completion.
Ladies and gentlemen, this Administration believes that it is only industrialization that can rapidly turn the economic wheel of Nasarawa State. And tourism is a crucial segment of this focus.
In our efforts to develop and promote tourism, the State Government effectively participated in the following events:
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- Eco-tourism Fair held at Nicon Hilton Hotel in December, 2000;
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- ITB Tourism Fair held in Berlin, Germany, in March, 2001;
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- World Tourism Day Celebration held in Cross River State in September, 2001;
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- The World Travel Market which took place in London (UK) in November, 2001;
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- The Nigerian Festival for Arts and Culture, which held in Abuja in 2001;
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- The Nigerian Festival for Arts and Culture in Port-Harcourt in November 2002; and
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- ITB Tourism Fair held in Berlin, Germany in March, 2003.
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Nasarawa State will continue to showcase its tourism and cultural potentials in major tourism fairs in order to attract both tourists and private investors, with the aim of enhancing the development of the industry.
The request by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation that Nasarawa State should host this year’s World Tourism Day came up just about 18 days ago and I gladly accepted to host the other 35 States and Abuja here in Farin Ruwa Falls, despite the short notice. This is due to the priority that this Administration accords the tourism sub-sector.
We chose Farin Ruwa Falls as venue for this year’s National World Tourism Day because of its unique, thrilling and untapped nature, in addition to the universality of its eco-system.
Although the falls is yet to be developed into an ideal holiday resort, statistics show that thousands of tourists from within and outside the country have been visiting this beautiful falls. One can therefore, imagine the tourist traffic once the falls is fully developed.
No doubt, the development of tourism is capital intensive. At the moment the State Government is making every effort to ensure the development and promotion of tourism in the State. In that regard, our doors are wide open to private investors to assist the State in its effort to develop tourism, particularly Farin Ruwa Falls, in view of its viability.
The falls is located in Marhai forest Reserve in Farin Ruwa Local Government Area of the State. It descends from a height of about 1440 metres above sea level and is 50 metres wide. The mountain range from where the falls drop is very suitable for mountaineering. This means that this site can serve a sporting purpose as well.
In conclusion, the State Government intends to develop Farin Ruwa Falls into an international holiday resort, where Nigerians and foreigners will spend their vacations. This indeed, is our ultimate goal and we intend to pursue it with all the zeal and available resources. Meanwhile, I urge you to continue to enjoy the eco-system as bestowed on us by the Almighty Allah.
On this note, I wish you safe journey to your respective destinations; but do not forget to visit Farin Ruwa Falls when next you are on vacation.
Thank you and God bless.
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