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The Tourism Sector in Nigeria

by Fred Nwaozor The tourism sector in Nigeria is a largely untapped yet highly promising component of the national economy. With her vast landmass, rich cultural diversity, and varied ecosystems, Nigeria possesses the natural and human resources required to build a thriving tourism industry. Tourism, if properly harnessed, can serve as a major source of revenue, employment, and international goodwill for the country. Nigeria’s cultural diversity is one of its greatest tourism assets. With over 250 ethnic groups, each with distinct languages, traditions, festivals, and cuisines, the country offers a wide range of cultural experiences. Traditional festivals such as the Argungu Fishing Festival, Osun-Osogbo Festival, Durbar Festival, and New Yam festivals attract both local and international visitors. The country is also blessed with numerous natural attractions that have strong tourism potential. These include scenic landscapes such as the Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River ...

Suntory CEO, Niinami resigns over Drug Probe

RostrumNews
The outspoken Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Japanese global liquor giant, Suntory Group, Takeshi Niinami, has resigned after police raided his house in a n ongoing probe on illegal drugs deal.

Niinami, 66, was put under police investigation following the arrest of a close ally in an illegal drug case in July, 2025.

Consequently, police searched Niinami’s house in August, but he has denied involvement, and no illegal drugs have been found.

“An investigation was conducted into supplements he purchased under the belief that they were legal,” Suntory president Nobuhiro Torii told news conference on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Niinami was reportedly suspected of importing products containing THC, an active ingredient in cannabis, from the United States.

During the search, Niinami told police that he thought it was a legal product, saying a female acquaintance sent it to him unsolicited.

Niinami, who also serves as the head of the country’s business lobby, joined Suntory Holdings in 2014, after serving as CEO of convenience store chain Lawson.

Suntory is known for its world-famous whisky and the company’s brands include Jim Beam bourbon, Laphroaig whisky and Courvoisier cognac.

In 2014, it acquired the United States' maker of Jim Beam for $16 billion to become one of the world’s biggest spirits makers.

NiinIt's noteworthy that Niinami is known as a vocal business leader. In 2023, he openly criticised Japan’s former biggest boyband agency following revelations about decades of sex abuse by its late founder.

Japan has strict drug laws and possession can result in jail time. In 2024, the German-born former CEO of optical equipment firm, Olympus, was found guilty of a drug charge.

In 2017, a German executive working at Volkswagen’s Tokyo office was arrested on suspicion of drug use.

Fred Nwaozor, popularly known as TheMediaAmbassador, is a Nigerian tech expert, author, creative & content writer, media strategist, policy analyst, blogger, public speaker and rights activist. The renowned columnist regularly writes for the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), and is the Founder & Convener of Right Thinkers Movement (RITMO), Nigeria. He's a chartered industrial physicist, engineer and IT personnel. As a media guru, he enjoys an active presence in all media segments - including electronic, print & digital - since two decades ago till date. As a full-time researcher and educator, he's a regular contributor and peer reviewer for various internationally-noted engineering journals. As an Automation & Telecommunication engineer, his research interest mainly lies in System Modelling, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart city, Cybersecurity, Wireless networks, and Machine Learning (ML).