Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has expressed his administration’s commitment to unlocking tourism potential that will further grow the economy of Lagos.

Mr Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance on Saturday. The governor said his administration was desirous of exploring the state’s waterways to develop a strong ecosystem for tourism and expand its transport system.

“We are indeed excited that we can finally have a boat regatta, the beginning of what will be a lot of activities going to happen during this yuletide season.

“This one, being the very first, is a demonstration of our commitment to developing tourism potential in Lagos.

“You know one-third of Lagos is surrounded by water. So, we need to be able to use our waterways not only as a means of transportation but also as a strong ecosystem for tourism. Today, you will be seeing a display of various sizes of water infrastructure and boat regatta from the five divisions of Lagos,” he said.

The governor, who declared the event open, said that the boat regatta was to showcase the beauty of Lagos waterways for the residents to relish.

The governor embarked on a boat ride with some state executive council members during the event.

Toke Benson-Awoyinka, the commissioner for tourism, arts and culture, said the Lagos Boat Regatta 2024 served as a driver of economic growth to boost tourism and create opportunities for local businesses.

“This event has highlighted the vibrant community heritage and sustainability practices through an engaging as well as multi-sensory experience, weaving together parades, dance performances and innovative space layouts with captivating images,” she said.

(NAN)