Lagos Assembly urges gov to implement tourism law, establish agency

The Lagos State House of Assembly has implored Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, to ensure continuous awareness relating to tourism.

It also urged the governor to ensure full implementation of the tourism law, as well as the creation of a tourism agency as stipulated in a bill passed by the House in 2018.

Chairman of the Committee on Tourism Arts and Culture, Fatai Oluwa, who raised the motion in commemoration of World Tourism Day 2022 at plenary, yesterday, said that the purpose of the celebration, with the theme, “Rethinking Tourism,” was to focus on reviewing and redeveloping tourism after the coronavirus pandemic.

He said Lagos State, being the Centre of Excellence, hopes to ensure that tourism potentials are explored in the state. He added that the establishment of the agency would encourage provision, improvement and marketing of tourism facilities in the state locally and internationally.

In his contribution, the Deputy Majority Leader, Noheem Adams, said the main objective of the World Tourism Day is to celebrate and sensitise the world on the long-term planning and development of tourism.

He said that globally, tourism had been found to be lucrative and impact positively on the lives of the residents and users of tourist destinations. He urged the government to pay more attention to tourism in the state.

Also speaking, Adewale Temitope noted that Lagos State has lots of tourist sites, saying that they are tools for internally-generated revenue (IGR) and that most countries see tourism as sources of financing for the government.

“Since the House has passed a law to enhance tourism in the state, it is on point to call on the commissioner and all other agencies that are attached to the tourism board to implement the law with immediate effect,” he said.

On his part, Victor Akande added that tourism helps to create jobs and income generation, noting that through tourism, foreign investors could be attracted, thus creating economic value for the state.

Desmond Elliot, who also contributed, commended Lagos State government for building a film village. He, however, noted that the state had more to do in relation to the sector. The House, thereafter, passed a voice vote to adopt the motion.