Lagos Govt Assures Tourism Stakeholders Of Maximum Support

The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has assured stakeholders of its maximum support in building sustainable growth for the industry.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, gave the assurance at a webinar session with stakeholders recently in Lagos.

In its determination to reposition tourism beyond the new normal in view of the ravaging effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has assured stakeholders of its maximum support in building sustainable growth for the industry.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, gave the assurance at a webinar session with stakeholders recently in Lagos on the N1billion Soft Loan for Tourism and Entertainment Sector in the Lagos State.

Akinbile-Yussuf expressed displeasure over the inability of stakeholders to fulfil requirements for disbursement of the COVID-19 palliative loan approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to alleviate the effect of the pandemic on their businesses.

She stated that the main objective of the meeting was to get feedback from the stakeholders on the reasons for the perceived apathy towards applying for the loan which was meant to help them stay in business.

She, however, assured the stakeholders of the ministry’s cooperation and support to grow their businesses, adding that the present administration does not intend to choke stakeholders with taxes, but to render all necessary support to them.

The commissioner explained that the major prerequisite for stakeholders to access the loan was to be registered with the Ministry with an up-to-date payment of their annual dues.

Akinbile-Yusuf noted that the ministry would improve on its publicity of the loan and the requirements for accessing it and informed the stakeholders of the forthcoming hybrid tourism summit slated for March 25, 2021.

On his part, the Founder of Tourism Business Success International, Mr. Emmanuel Lordsgreat, said the stakeholders were more in need of grants, rather than a loan, as the industry had been affected badly, leaving most stakeholders indebted.

Omolara Adelusi, President, Venue Owners Association of Nigeria, urged the Ministry to reduce the registration fee and annual levies allotted to each stakeholder, which had been challenging for the association members to comply with.