The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland/Chief Promoter Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF) Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams has called on the Federal Government to move tourism from the residual to the concurrent legislative list to enable stronger collaboration between federal and state governments in developing the sector.
Adams made the call on Tuesday at the 24th Olokun World Festival at Kakanfo-Falola Beach Badagry Lagos.
He said placing tourism on the concurrent list would allow states to work productively with the Federal Government and its agencies to harness the country’s tourism potential promote their destinations and facilitate visa processes for international visitors.
‘I want to use this opportunity to advise the Federal Government that much as tourism is on the residual list they should make policy moves to take tourism to the concurrent legislative list.
This will enable states to productively work together with the Federal Government and its agencies to fully harness the tourism potentials of our country’ he said.
He added that visa approval for tourists should not be restricted to the Federal Government alone arguing that states should be able to engage diplomatic missions to ease entry for visitors.
Adams also appealed to the Federal Government to extend the reconstruction of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to the Seme border and expedite its completion to make Badagry more accessible to tourists from Lagos and neighbouring Benin Republic.
He disclosed that the Olokun Festival Foundation is developing Kakanfo-Falola Beach into a major cultural tourism destination with facilities including a hotel mini cinema conference halls gym Olympic-size swimming pool mini festival stadium and courts for lawn tennis table tennis and beach soccer.
Describing the festival as more than an annual event Adams said it is a platform for preserving Yoruba history spirituality and cultural identity.
‘The Olokun World Festival is far more than an annual event; it is a living breathing affirmation of our identity history and continuity as a people’ he said.
He noted that the festival which began 24 years ago at Alpha Beach Lagos has grown into an international celebration attracting participants from across Nigeria Africa and the diaspora with the Foundation now celebrating over 30 traditional festivals across Yorubaland.
Adams thanked the people of Badagry for hosting the festival since its relocation over two decades ago and paid tribute to the late Akran of Badagry Oba De-Wheno Aholu Toyi I for his support calling for a minute’s silence in his honour.
He also appreciated HRM Oba Olalekan Sejiro James Henwa the Aholu of Kweme Kingdom the Regent of Badagry White Cap Chief Ajose Oloyede other traditional rulers members of the Oodua People’s Congress and the festival planning committee.
Representative of the Lagos State Governor Kenny Idowu Johnson Director-General of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture stressed the need to continue to uplift Yoruba culture and tradition.
Also speaking HRM Oba Adeleke Akinbo Oluwo the Adegbe of Legbe Kingdom Lekki Lagos said the event showcases Yoruba heritage.
‘This event is a cultural celebration. What I saw is all about our heritage tradition and how we should be able to lift celebrate what we are being born with. Our culture has been mixed and how we can bring our people back is by this type of gathering that would showcase that we are born special. Yoruba people are born special throughout the world’ he said.