Nigeria is losing enormous tourism revenue because of poor heritage preservation, weak destination management and inaccurate historical narratives, according to Dr. Raphael James, Founder of the Centre for Research, Information and Media Development (CRIMMD). Addressing participants at the Naija7Wonders Zoom Conference on “Festivals & Tourism in Nigeria: A New Pathway,” Dr. James said the country possesses world-class cultural and historical assets but has failed to protect, interpret and commercialise them effectively.
Drawing from more than two decades of historical and tourism research, he disclosed that he has personally documented over 600 tourism sites across Nigeria, many of which suffer from neglect and poor maintenance. “The biggest problem I have observed across Nigeria is our poor maintenance culture,” he said. He cited several examples, including the remnants of the ancient Old Oyo Empire wall in Okuta, Kwara State, which he believes deserve urgent preservation because of their historical significance.
According to him, appeals to government authorities to protect the site have gone unanswered, raising concerns that valuable pieces of Nigeria’s history could disappear forever. Dr. James also criticised the distortion of Nigerian history in tourism narratives, warning that inaccurate storytelling weakens the country’s cultural credibility. Using the popular claim that Badagry houses Nigeria’s first storey building as an example, he argued that the structure should instead be described as the country’s first colonial storey building, noting that older multi-storey structures existed in places such as Benin and Katsina centuries earlier.
“If we don’t tell our history correctly, we cannot effectively market our tourism products,” he said. The historian further lamented inadequate interpretation at several museums, revealing that he had visited institutions where museum curators were unfamiliar with the historical significance of artefacts under their care. He called for continuous professional training for museum personnel and greater investment in research to improve the quality of historical interpretation offered to visitors. Dr. James also advocated for better management of tourism attractions through visitor registration systems, entrance fees and improved conservation measures, citing the example of a “hanging lake” in Oyo State that receives visitors without proper monitoring or revenue collection.
He maintained that stronger documentation, professional heritage management and accurate storytelling would significantly enhance Nigeria’s tourism appeal, attract more visitors and generate sustainable economic benefits for host communities. According to him, preserving history is not only about protecting monuments and artefacts but also about creating authentic experiences capable of positioning Nigeria as one of Africa’s leading cultural tourism destinations.
