By Frank Meke
In the world of Hannatu Musa Musawa, Nigeria’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, wonders truly never end. She has become, in many ways, Nigeria’s latest Ali Baba—or perhaps Alice, the fiery princess of illusion—spinning magical optics that leave many weary citizens believing, however briefly, that life is a bed of roses.
Only a few days ago, she was somewhere in Lagos, plotting how to bring the “Federal Government” into Detty December festivities. And one is compelled to ask: where is the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority in all this grandstanding? Where is the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, whose structures have long been in place to market and manage the city’s tourism identity?
As is now her signature style, Madam Optics went full throttle, elevating what should simply be a private partnership with a Lekki-based firm into a grand “landmark” federal intervention. She took to Instagram to paint an Alice-in-Wonderland narrative, conveniently ignoring the fact that Lagos tourism authorities already have a strong, organised framework for the season’s events.
Barely a week earlier in Enugu, this same “Federal Government” under Hannatu Musa Musawa pulled the rug from under Nigeria’s biggest cultural tourism festival—the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST)—cancelling it less than four hours before its official flag-off. Her explanation? The “national mood.” Yet, somehow, one week later, the same mood suddenly lifted enough to birth a Detty December festival. Magical, isn’t it?
Predictably, no institutional framework accompanied this so-called federal intervention. And we are again left wondering: is the Detty December Festival part of the mysterious mandate she claimed from the Federal Executive Council—one that supposedly appoints her as Lagos State’s chief traffic management officer for December tourism activities?
After the Enugu fiasco, one wonders if Hannatu fully grasps the December holiday traffic patterns across Nigeria—particularly the massive annual migration to the eastern and South-South states. Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, and Abia remain some of the country’s most vibrant December destinations, drawing millions from across Nigeria. The highways become choked; security is heightened; spending on leisure, food, hospitality, and recreation skyrockets.
If she truly seeks insight, she should consult local airlines and observe their fully booked flights throughout December and January. While Cross River and Akwa Ibom also benefit from this traffic—especially with Akwa Ibom’s international airport—there remains a huge gap for more carriers.
If Hannatu Musa Musawa genuinely intends to recalibrate Nigeria’s cultural tourism opportunities, she should be working with the governors of these states, alongside agencies under her ministry: the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, National Council for Arts and Culture, National Troupe, National Museum, and others. Her Ali Baba-style “open sesame” approach to Lagos Detty December simply won’t deliver results.
Industry whisperers speak of an alleged ₦136 million “federal intervention fund” for the Detty December festival—yet another conjure that sounds too magical to be true. But in Nigeria, anything is possible in the name of culture and tourism.
This brings us to Hannatu’s famous $100 million tourism revenue “projection” by 2030. Where are the foundations? In the last three years, she has entertained us with fantastical and unverifiable tourism statistics, built on shaky assumptions and served on fragile clay plates.
Tourism is dynamic, shaped by economic, social, and political forces. Yet Hannatu appears unaware of this reality. She has not strengthened institutions under her watch, nor delivered tangible opportunities that could advance Nigeria toward becoming Africa’s leading tourism destination. Instead, she drags us backwards with simplistic soundbites and poetic illusions, avoiding the hard, gritty work needed to reposition the sector.
At a recent meeting in Abuja, she again rolled out her usual claims of Nigeria earning about $100 million from tourism receipts. How? From where? Through what economic pipeline?
While she repeatedly calls for private-sector collaboration, her game plan does not meaningfully include those very players.
This is where Otunba Segun Runsewe stands out—arguably Nigeria’s most effective cultural tourism administrator. Runsewe demonstrated, with verifiable results, that home-grown solutions work. There was no room for Ali Baba conjures under his watch.
At the same Abuja meeting, I saw the weary face of Munzali Dantata, once the shining light of indigenous tourism investment. In the 1990s, he singlehandedly brought Saudi Arabian Airlines to Nigeria and built the famous Zuma Rock Resort—without government support. Alabo Mike Amachree did the same in Rivers State, powering cultural tourism in Port Harcourt.
There are many unsung Nigerians with significant investments in tourism, yet accidental leaders like Hannatu Musa Musawa cannot comprehend their contributions. Nor do they understand that genuine tourism development will not be imported from overseas.
Industry leaders and associations with proven competence now sit idly, listening to the statistical abracadabra of a minister whose only achievement in three years is conjuring numbers.
Now that Hannatu has “lifted the national mood” and descended on Lagos for Detty December, where are the contributions from her cheerleaders? Where is the structured plan? Where is the institutional framework?
Let it be said clearly: Hannatu Musa Musawa is not the cultural tourism messiah Nigeria seeks. She is a lone ranger, wrapped in optics and illusions.
To her admirers, I offer one piece of advice: beware. Ali Baba has come to town.
