By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Ferry Service, Abdul Baqi Ladi Balogun, has called on individual, firms, organisation, to come and benefits from the potentials, the state water tourism offers.
Balogun said they need to partake and harness the state’s waterways as a way to boost tourism and promoting economic growth of Lagos State and Nigeria.
He said one third of Lagos state is covered by water, saying the state waterways are safe and are yearning for people to tap in into them and benefit from their potentials.
Balogun stated all these during the agency’s Fuji Fusion L’ ori Omi event held in Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos State on Saturday, 29 June, 2924.
According to Balogun, Fuji Fusion L’ori Omi initiative is aimed at using music to showcase Lagos water tourism to the whole world.
The Lagferry boss said 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 blue economy with waterway tourism as laid down by Governor Babajide Sanwo -Olu,” he said.
Balogun added that, “What we are doing today is about tourism in Lagos State, to showcase how rich our tourism industry is to the world to see. What we are doing today is history and we are all happy to be part of this event. We are letting the world know what we have in Lagos and in Nigeria”.
According to him, Governor Sanwo-Olu has given the service the approval that, “we should go ahead and explore the potential of Lagos waterways”.
Balogun said well known fuji artistes would always be invited to showcase their talents at the event of the service.
According to Balogun, Afro Beat artistes would also be invited to perform at the events of the service in future.
“For now, we are starting this aspect of our series with traditional genre, which is Fuji,” Balogun said.
Famous fuji artistes: Wasiu Alabi Pasuma and Sulaimon Adio popularly addressed as Atawewe were in the boat of the service to entertain guests invited for the event.