LAGOS TARGETS LGAS, LCDAS AS TOURISM PROMOTERS

The Lagos State Government has called for greater involvement of Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in promoting tourism, culture and heritage across the state.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, made the call during a strategic engagement with supervisors, special advisers and representatives of LGAs and LCDAs in Lagos.

Aregbe said the state was moving beyond centrally driven tourism programmes and seeking to make local councils and communities active participants in identifying, preserving and promoting cultural assets within their areas.

He noted that many of Lagos’ festivals, heritage sites and cultural experiences originated within local communities, making grassroots participation important to the state's tourism development plans.

The engagement, held under the theme, “A Lagos that Works for Everyone, Everywhere,” provided an opportunity for local stakeholders to identify tourism opportunities and explore partnerships that could support cultural and economic development.

According to Aregbe, LGAs and LCDAs have an important role to play as custodians of local heritage and cultural traditions.

He said stronger collaboration could help communities preserve cultural sites, support local festivals and develop tourism experiences capable of attracting visitors while creating economic opportunities for residents.

The Lagos State Government is pursuing a broader strategy to position the state as a major tourism and entertainment destination in Africa.

Development partners also participated in the discussions, exploring opportunities to support tourism and cultural initiatives through strategic partnerships.

The government said its approach would ensure that tourism development extends beyond major commercial and entertainment centres to communities where many of the state's cultural practices and heritage assets originated.

Aregbe maintained that stronger grassroots participation would be important in promoting inclusivity, protecting cultural heritage and supporting sustainable tourism development across Lagos.