Abuja — President Umaru Yar'Adua on Thursday charged the private sector to partner with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation in the development of tourism in the country.

He noted that there was the need for the promotion of the national cultural heritage in order to enhance peace and unity among the ethnic groups in the country.

Speaking at the opening of the third edition of the Abuja Carnival, the President

said Nigeria is blessed with a diversified art and culture that needs to be promoted to create an enabling environment for development.

Yar'Adua, who was represented at the occasion by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, said "Nigeria is made up of over 250 ethnic groups, representing over 140 million people; they have created history in their diverse cultural heritage and I wish that this rich culture and elegant heritage will harmonise the country.

"Government is ready to partner with the private sector in the area of tourism development in the country.

"The tourism sector if properly funded can be the nation's alternative source of income after oil and gas and has the potentials to earn the nation as much as a N100 billion annually; we are creating an enabling environment for tourism to thrive in the country," he added.

Yar'Adua argued that "in line with the administration's seven-point agenda, our mission is to create an enabling environment that will attract direct foreign investment in the tourism sector, boost the nation's economy and create the much needed jobs for our youth.

"Our desire is to create a city that would be reckoned with in the whole of Africa and would be seen as the hub for culture and tourism," he added.