…as Safety Commission Rolls Out Tougher Measures for a Secure Festive Season
The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to repositioning the state as a globally competitive tourism and creative destination, as key players across the tourism, hospitality, and entertainment sectors gathered on Thursday for the Tourism, Hospitality and Creative Stakeholders’ Engagement Summit held at Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.
Delivering her address, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, said the summit underscores the state government’s determination to strengthen collaboration and deepen partnerships needed to elevate Lagos’ tourism profile.
According to her, the theme of the summit, “Unlocking the Potentials and Opportunities of Lagos Tourism: Collaboration and Partnership for a Greater Lagos,” reflects the collective responsibility required to drive innovation, sustainability, and destination development across the state.
Benson-Awoyinka noted that Lagos remains Nigeria’s melting pot of culture, entertainment, and economic activity, enriched by its diverse population and vibrant creative energy. She said the government recognises the role of stakeholders—ranging from investors and creatives to policymakers and destination managers—in sustaining Lagos’ status as a top destination for leisure, business, and cultural experiences.
She further highlighted the key objectives of the summit, which include strengthening partnerships across the tourism and hospitality value chain, enhancing service delivery, improving destination competitiveness, and exploring new sustainable opportunities across the state.
“As a government, we understand that meaningful stakeholder collaboration is essential for building a tourism ecosystem that is accessible, attractive, and impactful,” she said, adding that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains committed to creating an enabling environment that supports investment, innovation, and global best practices.
The commissioner emphasized that the summit’s panel discussions and technical sessions would generate actionable insights capable of improving infrastructure, safety, regulatory frameworks, service standards, and promotional strategies—critical elements as Lagos continues to attract both local and international visitors.
She urged participants to engage actively, share knowledge, and deploy their professional expertise, stressing that their contributions would shape the future of tourism in Lagos, especially as the state prepares for the fast-approaching festive season.
Benson-Awoyinka reiterated the state’s resolve to unlock Lagos’ cultural, creative, and economic strengths, positioning it as the tourism hub of Africa and a gateway to the world.
Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Safety Commission has outlined heightened safety measures aimed at ensuring secure tourism, entertainment, and hospitality experiences across the state during the festive season and beyond.
Representing the Director General of the Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, Assistant Director of Events and Hospitality Safety, Olubunmi Jegede, presented a comprehensive safety protocol designed to make Lagos fully “crowd-ready” for December activities.
Jegede explained that the Commission plays a central role in enforcing safety standards across hotels, beach resorts, event centres, restaurants, lounges, and similar establishments. Through continuous inspections, emergency preparedness checks, and the issuance of compliance certificates and event permits, the commission ensures that both operators and guests enjoy a secure, well-regulated environment. This regulatory framework, he noted, is guided by the Commission’s 4Es of Safety—Engineering, Education, Enforcement, and Evaluation.
To strengthen compliance, Jegede emphasized that all hospitality facilities must register with the Commission, undergo regular safety audits, and obtain event permits before hosting any gathering. He outlined mandatory safety requirements for event organizers, including the presence of trained marshals, functional ambulances, fire-fighting equipment, controlled entry and exit points, and strict adherence to venue capacity limits. These measures, he said, are crucial for preventing overcrowding, stampedes, and other crowd-related hazards.
As part of its festive season operations, the Commission has activated a three-pronged strategy consisting of pre-event safety audits, deployment of trained tourism safety marshals, and intensified public awareness campaigns. The Commission is working closely with the NDLEA to ensure clubs and event venues remain free of weapons and hard drugs, with defaulters facing immediate sanctions. Tourism safety marshals—trained in crowd control, first aid, and CPR—will be stationed at major events to guide attendees and provide rapid emergency response.
Jegede added that waterfront safety remains a top priority, with the Commission mandating that all beach resorts employ certified lifeguards to reduce drowning incidents. Through strict enforcement, visible safety personnel, and continuous community sensitisation, the Lagos State Safety Commission assured residents and visitors of a safe, vibrant, and enjoyable “Detty December,” positioning Lagos as Africa’s most secure and exciting holiday destination.
