Lagos State Ferry Services has stressed the need to harness the state’s waterways potential through tourism to boost economic growth and development.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, LAGFERRY, Abdoulbaq Balogun, said this during the Fuji Fusion L’ori Omi event on Saturday in Lagos.

The Fuji Fusion L’ori’ Omi is an initiative aimed at using music to showcase Nigeria’s water tourism.

Mr Balogun explained that the event was a combination of entertainment, tourism and transportation.

“We are exposing the Lagos waterways to what we can do when it comes to hospitality, leisure and the blue economy,” he said.

He added that the state would remain committed to harnessing the benefits of the blue economy with waterways tourism.

“This is all about tourism in Lagos. What we are doing today is history and we are happy to be part of it. We are letting the world know what we have in Nigeria. Mr Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has given us the approval that we should go ahead and explore the potential in our waterways.

“If one third of Lagos State is covered by water, what are we doing with the water apart from water transportation which is one part of it? This is why we are actually marketing water tourism,” he said.

He added that well-known Fuji artistes both locally and internationally would showcase their talents at the event.

“We are not going into Afrobeats now, we will come back to that later. For now, we are starting this aspect of our series with our traditional genre, which is Fuji,” he said.

He listed some of the musicians as Wasiu Alabi known as Pasuma; Ambassador Sulaiman Adio Atawewe popularly known as Mr Spirit and Toyin Adio Ololade aka Mr Performer, among others.

Also speaking, General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority, Damilola Emmanuel, said the authority’s paramount goal was to ensure the safety of lives and property.

“LASWA is in charge of safety, ensuring that the waterways are safe for commercial transportation. Tourism, of which this Fuji Fusion falls into; our role is to provide safety for this kind of initiative.

“Our expectation is that of excitement and passion for Lagos. And we will ensure that this kind of event is happening in Lagos and people should know that Lagos State waterways are open for tourism,” he said.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, described the event as the best way to sell tourism to Lagos residents.

“What we are doing here is to show to Lagos residents what can happen on our waterways. Many activities will go on today, we have the musicians, and people who are providing the food which is agro-economy and others. Many things can happen on the waterways, transportation from one place to other, even work, you can imagine an annual general meeting holding on the waterway. That is what we are selling today.

“This will not be a one-off thing, we had done a live show of a football match a few months ago and we are encouraging private sector participation in this regard,” she said.

Atawewe said the Lagos Fuji Fusion was special because of the concept and the way it was packaged on the waterways.

He said, “Lagos is trying to showcase the potential of its waterways. We equally use music to drive away people’s sorrow and that is what we are going to be doing in the Fuji Fusion event.’’

(NAN)