By Peter Adelowo
Former Edo State Commissioner for Information and spokesperson to ex-President Ibrahim Babangida, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has called for the establishment of an Abuja Tourism Village to boost the capital’s cultural and economic appeal.
He made the call while receiving a delegation from the Emerging Abuja Projects, organizers of the upcoming “Groovy December” event, led by its Programme Coordinator, Dr. Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, in Abuja.
Prince Afegbua emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Emerging Abuja Projects team and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to bring the tourism village idea to fruition.
“The sum total of your ideas will be impactful if we can establish an Abuja Tourism Village. This was one of the campaign talking points in the last general elections,” Afegbua noted.
He advised the group to consider locating the proposed village about 40 kilometres from the city centre to ensure the project’s success and sustainability, especially as it relates to the upcoming December festivities.
The IBB spokesperson further stressed that the initiative would not only enhance the entertainment landscape of the FCT but also significantly contribute to revenue generation.
“I was part of the spokespersons who canvassed for this. If you check President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, it is clearly highlighted there,” he stated.
Prince Afegbua commended the group’s Abuja rebranding efforts, noting that such initiatives align with the Tinubu administration’s developmental vision.
“You need to hold the ministries accountable by making them realize the importance of committing resources to this kind of project. Ultimately, they will be the beneficiaries,” he added.
Commenting on the current development strides within the Federal Capital Territory, Afegbua lauded FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for his efforts but called for a deliberate extension of infrastructure and services to suburban areas to prevent ecological degradation in the city centre.
Earlier, in his remarks, Dr. Kenneth Ibe-Kalu described the envisioned tourism project as transformative, with the potential to elevate Abuja’s position on the global tourism index.
“The expected impact of this project is huge. It will create numerous jobs and empower citizens to contribute meaningfully to the initiative,” he said.
Dr. Ibe-Kalu added that Abuja should be strategically positioned to host both local and international visitors, which would, in turn, stimulate investments and boost the FCT’s internally generated revenue.
