The Lagos State Government and a travel as well as tourism management firm, Ajala.ng, have entered into a strategic partnership to further boost tourism and water transportation developments in the state.
The partnership between Lagos state government and the private firm was expected to expose both local and foreign visitors to tourist destinations available across Lagos.
Aside from boosting tourism, the collaboration was also designed to earn both public and private investors on the state waterways more patronage.
The partnership agreement was reached at the Secretariat, Alausa in Ikeja with the state government represented by officials from the State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture as well as Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY).
Speaking after signing the partnership documents, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Solomon Bonu, explained that the strategic partnership would assist in domesticating tourism by exposing everyone particularly visitors to numerous tourist destinations abound in the state.
“This partnership with a reputable and foremost travel management company like ajala.ng will help open up the many tourist destinations in the state and create easy access via the waterways” Bonu added.
Also, LAGFERRY Managing Director, Ladi Balogun, stressed that the partnership would not only promote local tourism but also create the required awareness to commuting through waterways and boost standards in water transportation business.
While urging other private firms to partner with the government to boost Water transportation and Tourism, Balogun stated that government’s massive investment in water transportation was already yielding positive results through collaboration with the private sector.
According to him, we as an agency will support Ajala.ng in their quest to promote local tourism in Lagos State, I implore more Private business owners to invest in water transportation as this is the next frontier for Lagos Economy.
The firm’s Chief Operating Officer, Olamide Babayemi, described the partnership as one that was designed basically to promote local tourism, showcase the tourist destinations available in the state.
Babayemi, who commended the state government for creating an avenue for private sector partnership, highlights the benefits of water tourism to coastal states especially Lagos.
“The agreement signed today with our organization and Lagos Ferry Services is to promote local tourism since it has been difficult for tourists to travel around the world since the Covid-19 pandemic, this is the right time and channel to boost Lagos Water Tourism” she stated.
