By Olusegun Celestine Oni. August 22, 2024.
In the past 5 years, there have been a a discussion related to the establishment of Tourism Police in Nigeria. This discussion were held at the National assembly, although the reading has not been proceeded for further discussion. But this shows how Nigeria is starting to see the bigger picture of establishing a wing of security outlets that caters for Tourist safety in Nigeria.
Recently, a post graduate department of NIHOTOUR at Ibadan Training Center held a paper work on Tourism Police in Nigeria chaired by Dr Kola Lawal ( The Polytechnic Ibadan) Dr Oyeyemi Soretire ( Lead City University) Dr, Adegbola, Mrs Grace Idowu-Mogaji ( University of Ibadan ) Mr Segun Kayode ( NIHOTOUR). Other members of the research team were Mrs Deborah Olagunji, Chief Sola, Adesola, Mr Olajide femi, Miss Similoluwa Kayode, Mrs Adesina Toyin, Mrs Stephanie Sunnie-Ododo, Comrade Ojo and Mr Adekunle Olanrewaju. The Paperwork work was supervised by Dr Nasiru Tijani, Dr John Bosco, Dr Gbade Adekiitan, Mrs Uche Chidinma and Mr Segun Celestine Oni.
The paper work reflect how essential it is for Nigeria to implement the act to establish Tourism Police in Nigeria, as this will help the country to boost tourist sense of safety after the long pandemic of terrorism and post COVID experience 
Tourism Police is a security system that provide maximum security for Tourist in a particular destination. They provide tourists with adequate information and guide that is important for Tourist responsible stay and experience. In some country of the world that is already practicing tourism Policing like, Turkey, Malaysia, Thailand, France, Kenya, Egypt, UAE and many more. Part of the Tourism police responsibility in the region listed above are
PROTECTION OF HOST COMMUNITY ( DESTINATION)
* They ensure tourists are not partaking in child abuse through under-age prostitution.
* They ensure that Tourist are not involving in any form of illegal activities like drug, damage of property and all other forms of contemporary social problem.
” They ensure that the rules and regulations of the destination are properly followed by the tourists
* They serve as a guide and provide immediate security in case of any breaches to the destination before the law enforcement agent are contacted
PROTECTION OF TOURIST
*They provide Tourists with all information needed to stay safe in any attraction right from the Airport of Terminals to the Accomodations, Attractions and the community at large.
* They protect the Tourist from all form of extortion which can lead to overspending and eventually leads to Inflation
* They help in bridging language barriers between the host community. That is most cases, they serves as a translator
* They provide a first class protection for Tourist at any point of call
* They provide first aid service to Tourist Incase of Emergency 
All the roles listed above are part of the many benefits of establishing Tourism Police in Nigeria. As it was mentioned earlier, Tourism Police will restored the lost confidence of Tourist accross the globe who are still interested to visit the most populated black nation in the world endowed with almost all the attraction any nation can think of. From the coastal blessings, to the large area of Ecotourism attractions, Hills and Valleys, Waterfalls, Deserts, Oasis, best Culinary outfits in the world and many more.
As it is essential for a swimmer to have a life guard, A park to a have a ranger, A plane to have a pilot, so it is essential for Nigeria Tourism to implement a special Sector for Policing. Although, there have been many argument that what will Nigeria Police force doing not to have a department for Tourism? It is believed that Nigeria Police Force herself needs a total reform for the confidence to be restored as the sector had been filled with many cases of corruption and extortion.
The establishment of Tourism Police as recommended for effectiveness and efficiency should not be placed under the Nigeria Police Force, but work closely with the force in ensuring that law is been enforced accordingly.
In this prospect and in the process of establishing Nigeria Tourism Police, many positive events will occur including the reviewing of Nigeria Hospitality and Tourism Law where the law will also extends to work with Nigeria Custom service and Nigeria Immigration Service. The law will bring a total memorandum of understanding to every Hospitality outlets in the country and also other Tourism related activities.
Tourism Police in Nigeria will provide more employment opportunities for Tourism experts and enthusiasts as they will be vigorously trained physically, mentally, emotionally and intellectually. They will be enforced to learn many languages as a criteria to be enlisted in the force. They may not necessarily carry arms but they will be equipped mentally to know what is next in the case of emergency. They will be equipped with the most reliable communication gadget that can access every no other departments of law in the country including the state Security service.
Nigeria is ripe enough to implement this promising department to boost the image of Tourism in Nigeria and also set a great examples for other countries who are yet to implement Tourism Police.
