Lagos Affirms
Commitment To Tourism Development
The
Lagos State government has re-affirmed its commitment to tourism
development, by expressing a resolve to upgrade tourist centres
in the state to international standard.
Speaking at the first year coronation anniversary of a paramount
ruler in Apa, a village within Badagry Division of Lagos state,
south west Nigeria, the Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said
tourism development inspiration could be drawn from a place like
Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, which has successfully
achieved a lot with tourism and effectively becoming the biggest
economy in the world.
He said that the city of Dubai has shown with its feats, that
the tourism economy is more enormous than the petroleum economy.
Mr. Fashola said that his vision of Badagry, is one with a fully
developed tourism industry, as the town is noted for beautiful
beaches and historical sites acknowledged by United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, as one
of the Centres for Black Heritage.
Initiatives
The governor said a successful tourism economy could only be
achieved through the provision of an effective transportation
system, saying this realisation underscored the expansion of the
Lagos-Badagry Expressway, which is currently undergoing.
He gave an assurance that the state government would move closer
and faster to its dreams of developing an ideal society for the
benefit of all.
Conviviality
Governor Fashola described the spirit of conviviality
prevalent at the coronation as evidence that Nigerians are very
tolerant, hospitable and accommodating.
In his words, “the conviviality I see here today cannot be
faked. It is real. It is very evident. It is the foundation that
will lead the people to prosperity.”
The Chairman of Badagry West Local Council Development Area, Mr.
Bamgbose Ajose and the paramount ruler of Apa, Adekanmi
Ilufemiloye Ajose, while commending the laudable development
efforts in Nigeria’s commercial hub-Lagos, urged the state
government to create an industrial area within Badagry.
PR/Qasim/Yinka
