Promoting Human Security in Nigeria: The Role of Tourism

Abstract

The chapter reveals that tourism is now the fastest growing industry worldwide with an annual growth rate of about 4%. It comprises the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for leisure, business and other purposes not related to remuneration within the place visited. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, tourism is one of the strongest drivers of global economy. It is part of the poverty reduction strategies of more than 80% of low-income countries and a major source of resource promotion. In Nigeria, most touristic activities are centred around nature and culture. An interesting fact is that unlike the oil resources which the country greatly relies on and found in higher quantities in the south-south geopolitical zone than in the other five zones of the country, tourism is gradually developing in different parts of the country. It is observed that every local government area in the country has at least one tourism resource, which translates to nothing less than 776 tourism potential sites or attractions. Tourist environments were presented in the chapter as a solution to human insecurity as well as a good structure for the promotion of peace and conflict resolution in Nigeria. The chapter shows that human security refers to a people’s orientation, integration and comprehensive framework, addressing the questions of survival and the basic needs of life. It is concerned with issues related to quality of life. The chapter revealed that the human security of the Nigerian populace is threatened by poverty, hunger, unemployment, health hazards, discrimination and ecological degradation. In addressing this, it has been advised that piecemeal policy and measures will not be sufficient rather a full comprehensive development strategy is required. This chapter therefore documented the various tourism attractions in the six geopolitical zones of the country. It also explored the roles of tourism in promoting human security in Nigeria putting into perspectives the seven dimensions of human security; economic security, food security, health security, environmental security, personal security, community security and political security.