Governors Ordered to Drop ₦200m Each for Global ‘Naija Season’ Tourism Push; NEC Targets 1 Million New Jobs Through Heritage Restoration and Creative Villages

Nigeria’s 36 state governors have been tasked with a ₦7.4 billion collective investment to transform the nation’s cultural assets into a global economic powerhouse. During the 157th National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House, the council gave the green light for every state and the FCT to contribute ₦200 million toward the “Naija Season” and “Renewed Hope Cultural Project.”

The initiative, presented by the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, aims to move Nigeria’s heritage sites from “static monuments” to active revenue generators. “Naija Season” is envisioned as a premier national streaming and event platform that will spotlight local festivals, from the Argungu Fishing Festival to the Osun-Osogbo grove, projecting them to an international audience to drive tourism and diaspora investment.

Beyond the digital push, the “Renewed Hope Cultural Project” targets the physical restoration of crumbling historic sites and traditional palaces. The plan includes the construction of “Creative Villages” across the six geopolitical zones, designed to act as hubs for young filmmakers, content creators, and artisans in the “digital-age” economy.

Vice President Shettima emphasized that the ₦200 million contribution is a “test of sub-national commitment” to economic diversification. Government officials estimate that by 2030, the strategic revival of the tourism sector could provide a lifeline for up to one million young Nigerians through job creation in the hospitality and creative industries.

While the council also addressed critical security matters including the adoption of “112” as a unified emergency lifeline the focus on the “political trenches” of tourism suggests a shift toward non-oil revenue. With the 2027 transition cycle looming, the administration is betting that this ₦7.4 billion seed fund will finally turn Nigeria’s “rich history” into a “rich economy.”