The unmined wealth beyond oil

Nigeria’s vast coastline is among the most spectacular in Africa. Stretching from Lagos to Cross River, it offers untapped natural capital that, if harnessed intelligently, could rival the economic power of oil. However, in a country that is too dependent on petroleum earnings, this priceless resource is obscured by instability, institutional stagnation, and a lack of creativity.

Smaller African nations with far less coastal mileage: Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania, have developed thriving beach tourism sectors that now generate billions in revenue annually. Nigeria, by contrast, with West Africa’s longest sand beach and a diverse cultural ecosystem, remains missing from the continent’s tourism narrative. The paradox is staggering: a country that possesses the ingredients for a global tourism hub but consistently fails to convert potential into prosperity.

This failure is not for lack of precedent. The Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort in Calabar, once heralded as a game-changing initiative, now stands as a cautionary tale: an ambitious project eroded by insecurity, governance lapses, and diminishing investor confidence. The collapse of Tinapa is emblematic of a broader structural problem: Nigeria does not lack vision; it lacks the will and cohesion to execute.

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There is, however, a narrow window of opportunity emerging: an unusual intersection between national security reform and coastal economic development. Under Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force has begun investing in maritime security capabilities. The commissioning of 31 operational gunboats, alongside a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, signals a new, if overdue, recognition that policing Nigeria’s waterways is not merely a naval concern but a domestic economic imperative.

This development should be viewed as more than an institutional update. It represents the possibility of a structural shift in how Nigeria secures and leverages its coastal economy. For too long, the country’s approach to maritime security has been reactive and fragmented. The Nigerian Navy and NIMASA are mandated to protect the high seas, but the security vacuum in coastal communities, where most criminal activity originates, has been left largely unaddressed. The police, operating at the intersection of land and sea, are uniquely placed to fill this void.

“These risks, amplified by poor road access and weak law enforcement, deter both domestic and international visitors. The opportunity cost is profound: lost jobs, stagnant local economies, and a continued overreliance on volatile oil markets.”

The implications for tourism are significant. One of the chief barriers to investment in coastal infrastructure is the widespread perception of insecurity. Nigeria’s coastal areas, particularly in the Niger Delta, are often associated with piracy, kidnapping, and oil theft. These risks, amplified by poor road access and weak law enforcement, deter both domestic and international visitors. The opportunity cost is profound: lost jobs, stagnant local economies, and a continued overreliance on volatile oil markets.

Tourism is not a luxury sector; it is a proven growth engine. Dubai’s pivot from oil dependency to a diversified tourism-led economy is a case in point. The emirate’s annual revenue from tourism and related services now outpaces what many oil-exporting nations earn from crude. Nigeria’s coastline, if effectively secured and marketed, could host a spectrum of high-growth segments, from leisure and wellness tourism to ecotourism and cultural heritage projects.

Realising this vision will require strategic coordination across ministries and sectors. The Federal Ministry of Tourism and the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy must align their objectives with the operational reach of the Nigeria Police Force. This collaboration should be institutionalised through a national task force focused on tourism security: a cross-sector initiative encompassing infrastructure, community engagement, and law enforcement reform.

In parallel, the government must prioritise clear protocols for inter-agency coordination. Jurisdictional overlap between the police, navy, and maritime regulators has long impeded effective maritime governance. A unified security architecture, with defined roles, shared intelligence, and streamlined command structures, is not optional; it is essential.

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Crucially, this initiative should not be state-led alone. Nigeria must embrace public-private partnerships that leverage private capital, security expertise, and international tourism networks. Firms like Tanita Security Services, with operational capacity in high-risk zones, could play a valuable role in complementing government efforts. The 2025 International Tourism Day presents a timely platform to launch this agenda, signalling Nigeria’s seriousness to both domestic stakeholders and global investors.

The success of such a strategy will ultimately rest on political will. The federal government must demonstrate that it sees tourism not as an afterthought but as central to economic diversification and social stability. The dividends are considerable: reduced unemployment, increased foreign exchange, stronger rural economies, and a rebalanced national revenue structure.

Nigeria’s coastal wealth is real, tangible, and waiting. What it requires is security, not just from threats, but from neglect. In the hands of a more empowered, better-resourced, and strategically guided police force, Nigeria can begin to write a new chapter: one where tourism becomes not a faded memory, but a pillar of prosperity.