Lagos Ministry Engages Tourism Stakeholders for Festive Season Readiness

The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture recently held a strategic engagement session with key stakeholders from the tourism and hospitality sector to prepare for the expected surge in activities during the festive season. Held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, the meeting served as a crucial platform for the state government to align its vision with industry players. The goal is to ensure a smooth, safe, and enjoyable experience for both residents and visitors, leveraging Lagos's unique position as Nigeria's cultural and entertainment capital to maximize economic and social benefits throughout December.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, emphasized the paramount importance of collaboration and sustained partnerships among hoteliers, event planners, entertainment operators, and security agencies. She highlighted that this initiative is a core part of the state government’s commitment to fostering a safe, vibrant, and tourism-friendly environment. The summit's theme, “Unlocking the Potentials and Opportunities of Lagos Tourism: Collaboration and Partnership for a Greater Lagos,” directly reflects the administration’s goal to build a resilient, innovative, and sustainable tourism ecosystem capable of delivering continuous economic value, driven by the supportive policies and infrastructure investments of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s leadership.

​A significant focus of the session was safety preparedness for the yuletide season. The Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, represented by Mrs. Olubunmi Jegede, reassured stakeholders of the government’s commitment to the safety of all. He outlined mandatory emergency protocols for event organizers, which include having trained safety marshals, functional ambulances, fire-fighting equipment, and clearly visible emergency exits. The Commission further disclosed plans to deploy safety audits, tourism safety marshals, and intensified public awareness campaigns across the state to maintain a secure environment during the holiday period.

​A major highlight of the event was a strategic panel discussion titled “December in Lagos and Beyond: Expanding Seasonal Tourism into Year-Round Impact.” Moderated by Toyosi Etim-Effiong, the panel featured prominent industry figures like Keke Hammond, Dare Art Alade, Bizzle Osikoya, and Adebayo Ayoade. The discussion explored innovative strategies to transition Lagos's current vibrant but seasonal festive tourism economy into a sustained, year-round growth model for the creative and hospitality sectors, ensuring long-term impact beyond the holiday months.

the successful engagement, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. ’Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, delivered the Vote of Thanks. She expressed the Ministry's gratitude to all stakeholders for their insightful contributions and noted that the session provided meaningful recommendations that will enhance collaboration, strengthen service delivery, and advance the growth trajectory of Lagos’s tourism, hospitality, entertainment, and creative sectors. Her acknowledgment of the visionary leadership of Governor Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat underscored the sustained political will supporting a globally competitive tourism sector in Lagos.