The African Travel Commission (ATC) has expressed deep concern over the continued non-implementation of the Lagos State Tourism Promotion Agency Law, seven years after it was passed and signed into law. Dr. Lucky George, Executive Director of ATC, made this known in an interview with The Guardian on Wednesday.
Dr. George stated that the delay by the state government in operationalizing the law has significantly weakened efforts to establish a professional and independent institution capable of driving tourism policy, destination management, investment coordination, and long-term sector planning in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Background of the Law
The tourism promotion agency law was passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly and signed into law during the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in 2019. The law aimed to create a structured institutional framework for tourism development in Lagos State, which is regarded as Nigeria’s entertainment and commercial hub.
Dr. George regretted that seven years after the passage and assent, the agency has yet to emerge as a fully independent and functional institution. He questioned the government’s political commitment towards implementing tourism reforms and sustaining long-term institutional planning within the sector.
Need for Strong Institutions
He emphasized that the establishment of the Lagos State Tourism Promotion Agency was expected to serve as a major vehicle for implementing that vision. However, he acknowledged that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has continued to support entertainment, cultural festivals, nightlife development, transportation infrastructure, and event-driven activities across the state.
Dr. George insisted that tourism growth requires more than yearly events and publicity campaigns. Sustainable tourism development depends largely on strong institutions, reliable data systems, coordinated destination management, environmental planning, investment regulation, and policy continuity. Without functional institutional structures, tourism risks becoming seasonal entertainment rather than a sustainable economic sector.
Institutional Resistance
Dr. George expressed that institutional resistance within the ministry might have slowed the agency’s full emergence as an independent body as required by the law. According to him, successive administrations in the state have continued to rely heavily on ministry-driven tourism programs while institutional reforms remain largely unimplemented.
He also expressed concerns over persistent structural challenges within the tourism sector, including weak tourism statistics, fragmented attraction management, poor coordination, inconsistent implementation, and limited long-term planning.
Call for Legislative Oversight
Dr. George challenged the Lagos State House of Assembly to strengthen oversight on the implementation of the law, noting that legislative responsibility does not end with the passage of a bill but extends to ensuring that institutions created by law are properly implemented and operational.
The ATC remains committed to advocating for the full implementation of the Lagos State Tourism Promotion Agency Law to unlock the potential of tourism as a key economic driver for the state and the nation.
