The Lagos State House of Assembly has tasked the state Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu to mandate the Commissioner of Waterfront and Infrastructure Development to come up with workable strategies geared towards revamping waterfronts tourism potentials in the state in line with the THEMES Agenda.
During its Wednesday plenary session, Hon. Jimoh Wahab moved a motion on the “Need to Ensure Development of Tourism on Waterfronts in Lagos State.” He opined that given the natural resources nature endow the state with, much more revenue could be generated, which will geometrically bolster the economy of the state.
Perturbed by the untapped gift of nature, for which in other climes artificial avenues are gainfully deployed with attendant economic returns, lawmakers took turns to harp on the importance of latching on the obvious comparative advantage the waterfronts offers the state.
Hon. Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1) in his contribution notes that the state is losing a lot of revenues due to its refusal to tap the evident resources, citing the fact that tourism is one of the most lucrative sources of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in other climes.
“Dubai created an artificial waterfront which is one of the most beautiful in the world, Cuba did same and is doing fine not minding American imperialism, in fact they find it hard to go on the offensive because of the potential cited in Cuba. We have historical spots in Badagry like the’ Point of No Return’, yet to be maximally used.
“The Ministry of Waterfront and Infrastructure Development has a lot of job to do, they need to dredge the water for the boats that will be conveying tourists to move conviniently.
In his take on the topical motion, Hon. Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu 1) emphasized the importance for the state to move in and regulate the money spinning waterfront tourism potentials of the state, citing Bariga waterfront as eyesore given the filthy state it is.
“Bariga to Ilaje, Lekki, Ibeshe and Epe offers great tourism potentials that needs to be harnessed, in the Bariga axis, it is important to remove the wreckage, given the dirt all over the place it is an eyesore, all these areas need to be revamped.
“We need a nexus of the Ministry of Urban Development, Physical Planning, Waterfronts, Lands and New Town Development Authority (NTDA), they all need a synergy to harness the tourism potentials, I urge the house to call them together to come up with a master plan to achieve this”.
Hon. Desmond Elliott (Surulere 1) suggest that it is imperative that they check the provisions of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) so as to unravel the stipulated plans towards the development of waterfronts potentials in the state.
The Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade laments the waste of valuable resources the state is blessed with, citing multiplier chain effect it has on the economy if explored.
He also refer the house to the existing Law on Tourism Promotion Agency 2019 and the inherent proviso that has not being well harnessed to the benefit of the state, he made bold to say that the waterfront development will stall porosity and the attendant security challenges it poses as it will lead to economic rebound.
Rt. Hon. Obasa who presided over the session echoed the need for government to regulate and supervise development along the waterfronts so as to attract investors, create employment opportunity and firm up security.