Day Lagos unveiled its tourism agenda

Full to the brim, the expansive hall of the Eko Hotel and Tower, Victoria Island, Lagos had hundreds of people from different walks of life, sited and attentive as the programme kicked off. But at the mounting of the rostrum by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode to deliver his speech, the conviviality within […]

Full to the brim, the expansive hall of the Eko Hotel and Tower, Victoria Island, Lagos had hundreds of people from different walks of life, sited and attentive as the programme kicked off. But at the mounting of the rostrum by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode to deliver his speech, the conviviality within the hall moved a notch higher. And at every point that he has had to make a remarkable point, the audience had interrupted with applauses.

For Ambode and his team of aides, there perhaps could not have been a better time to define the tourism masterplan for a state that prides itself as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre than April 16 when it hosted what was tagged: Destination Lagos : Towards a Tourism Driven Economy.

Opening the session was the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Steve Ayorinde who described the hosting of the summit as one that underscores the emphasis being placed on making the state’s economy grow without being dependant on oil and gas.

“To indigenes, visitors and well wishers, Lagos evokes variegated emotions. To many, and rightly so, it is the land of multitude, milk and honey, the proverbial land of dreams and opportunities. But the dynamics of progress and development are changing and strategies are being redrawn, forcing smart states and countries to be proactive and seek productive alternatives.

“Lagos saw the light in good time because an Art-loving helmsman mounted the throne at a critical time and saw the need to show interest and invest in a sector that can rescue an entire nation and absorb millions of our teeming youths that oil and gas; banking and other white collar jobs that have limited capacities could absorb,” Ambode said.

According to the Commissioner, there is an urgent need for Lagos State to start identifying the low hanging fruits and begin to execute early win strategies in its quest to make tourism a profitable creative economy and the new oil and gas. He noted that the theme of the summit, tagged: Destination Lagos : Towards a Tourism Driven Economy, touches on the nucleus of things that are desirable to make Lagos State a destination of choice using tourism as an integral component of growth strategy.

“Today’s discourses, therefore, will signpost a new charge of development and a growth agenda that will rely on the talent, skills and exemplary resilience of our people that created iconic brands like Afrobeat, Nollwood and among the youths that constitute over 65 percent of our population. Indeed, the Lasgidi movement simply suggests that everything Lagos is sound, smart and ready to announce itself as a cultural force to be reckoned with. In addition, the summit plans to create a path that would raise the bar of the state’s tourism platform and reposition its strength among other tourists destination in Africa and the world,” Ayorinde said.

Picking up the baton after Ayorinde, the Governor explained that his administration’s decision to diversify attention away from oil and gas reliance is being etched on six-legged sub-sect of the tourism industry. The six sub-sects, he noted are: Culture and Heritage; Film, Art and Entertainment; Business Tourism, Nature and Adventure; Medical and Wellness as well as Beach and Leisure. 

What could be taken as the biggest revelation of the day, was the disclosure by the Governor that the tourism sector in the state contributed about $2.2billion, amounting to N800billion, to the state Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2017.

“We have put Tourism at the core of our growth strategy at this point in the development of our State – Laying a solid foundation for the continued prosperity of Lagos and Lagosians. The tourism sector contributed about $2.2billion (N800billion) to the Lagos GDP in 2017 and with the infrastructure and resources we are deploying in this sector, we expect this figure to double or treble in the next 5 years.

“The enormous resources we have deployed in physical and social infrastructure across the State will begin to crystallize by December into mega structures that will support tourism and market our state as a smart destination. The time and input from today’s Summit can never be adequate. The outcome is just a bye-product of another legacy we seek to build. We seek the cooperation of every interested persons and groups; to build ‘Brand Lagos’ that we will all be proud of,” the Governor said.

Ambode also revealed that his administration is drawing inspiration from cities such as Miami; São Paulo; Dubai, Singapore and Tokyo as well as African Cities such as Cape Town, Cairo, Marrakech and Accra which are succeeding in using tourism to draw attention to themselves as tourist havens of varying degrees.

“Our reputation as the commercial and entertainment nerve-Centre of Africa is not in doubt. With our young and energetic population, coastal location and other natural resources, we are arguably the city best suited to promote the idea of an iconic super brand for the black race. 

“So when you see us reclaim 50 hectares of land at the Oworonshoki end of our lagoon; when you see us clear a whole stretch at the Badagry and Epe Marina; when we insist that our prime waterfront must not be taken over by shanties and slums; when you see us embark on some ambitious road, fly-over and modern bus terminal constructions; we are preparing the grounds for a major source of employment and prosperity,” Ambode said.

The former President of Ghana, John Mahama, who was the next to address the gathering, applauded the Governor’s conviction. He however added that the vision to make Lagos a tourism hub must not be restrictive but one that should be opened for collaboration with neighbouring cities within the West Africa sub region. 

Mahama was even specific in calling for a co-join tourism relationship between Lagos and Accra, noting that the mere fact the cities are situated within the same geographical entity makes them share common destinies.

“Should Accra and Lagos have tourist attractions of same quality, there should be greater collaborative packages for tourists. Accra is just 45minutes away from Lagos, and just as tour packages take people to London, Paris and another European country, an Accra-Lagos joint package should be possible.

“That also calls for greater inter-dependence among our countries. Tourists travel to safe locations. When they hear of instability or insecurity in any of our neighbouring countries, they consider it West Africa, and will be enough reason for them not to book flights to Nigeria,” Mahama said.

The former President who recalled how the Ebola crises in three West African countries affected tourism in the entire region, said there is a need for collaboration among neighbouring countries on all fronts, especially in the protection of people of the sub-region.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed also used the occasion to reiterate the Federal Government desire to make culture and tourism a new oil resource for Nigeria. In battling the challenge of piracy that has dogged the creative industry, the minister also revealed the police has been directed to set up anti-piracy unit in each states of the federation.