By:Abdullahi Inuwa
TULOTULO, YUSUFARI — This is not Dubai.
This is Tulotulo village in Yusufari Local Government Area of Yobe State.
At first glance, the rolling dunes, sweeping horizons and golden sunsets could easily pass for a postcard from the Middle East. But this breathtaking expanse is right here in Nigeria — quiet, untouched and largely unknown.
For years, thousands of Nigerians have boarded flights to the glittering deserts of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, spending millions of naira to experience dune bashing, desert sunsets and camel rides. Yet in Tulotulo, nature has crafted a similar spectacle — raw, authentic and waiting to be harnessed.
Local residents say the landscape transforms at dusk into a sea of gold, with winds shaping the sand into elegant curves that stretch endlessly toward the horizon. The serenity is striking. The silence, therapeutic.
Tourism experts argue that with proper investment in access roads, eco-lodges, security and branding, Tulotulo alone could generate millions annually for Yobe State and Nigeria at large. Desert festivals, adventure tourism, film productions and cultural exhibitions could thrive here.
“This is a sleeping giant,” a regional development advocate said. “If properly developed, Tulotulo can become a northern tourism hub.”
The economic implications are significant. Beyond revenue, a thriving tourism ecosystem would create jobs for youths as tour guides, hospitality workers, artisans and transport operators. Local farmers and traders would benefit from increased commercial activity. Women-led cooperatives could showcase crafts and cuisine unique to the region.
For a state often associated in headlines with security challenges, Tulotulo offers a different narrative — one of resilience, beauty and untapped opportunity. It is a reminder that Nigeria’s greatest wealth is not just beneath the ground, but across its landscapes.
Across Africa and the Middle East, countries have turned desert terrain into global attractions. From luxury desert resorts to international sand festivals, the model is proven. What is required is vision, planning and strategic partnership between government and private investors.
Yusufari’s dunes may not yet have five-star resorts or international tour packages. But what they possess is something even more valuable — authenticity. No artificial lighting. No staged glamour. Just nature in its purest form.
In an era where Nigerians spend heavily on foreign vacations, Tulotulo stands as a quiet challenge: why search abroad for what we already have at home?
Infrastructure remains key. Good roads, consistent security presence, digital promotion and environmental protection policies would ensure sustainable growth without damaging the fragile ecosystem.
The message is simple but powerful: Nigeria is too blessed to be broke.
From the savannahs of the North to the beaches of the South, the country’s tourism potential remains largely underexploited. Tulotulo village is proof that hidden treasures abound — waiting not for foreign applause, but for local belief.
This is not Dubai.
This is Yobe.
And it could be Nigeria’s next tourism goldmine.
Abdullahi Inuwa
Social Commentator
ainuwa303@gmail.com
