Sanwo-Olu urges stakeholders to invest in Nigeria’s tourism sector
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for greater investment in Nigeria’s tourism sector, saying sustainable growth depends on infrastructure, policy stability and strong public-private partnerships.
The governor made the call through the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, at the 2026 BusinessDay Tourism Conference held in Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking on the theme, “Nigeria’s Tourism: From Resilience to Investment-Ready Growth,” Sanwo-Olu said Nigeria must move beyond celebrating its tourism potential and focus on creating an environment that attracts investment.
“For many years, we have spoken about Nigeria’s immense tourism potential. We have celebrated our culture, festivals, creative talents and landscapes. Yet, potential alone does not create jobs. Potential alone does not attract capital. Potential alone does not build destinations. Investment does,” he said.
He said Lagos views tourism as a key driver of economic development and cited investments in rail infrastructure, road projects, waterfront regeneration, cleaner public spaces and digital connectivity as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s tourism ecosystem.
The governor added that Lagos has evolved into a leading destination for business tourism, entertainment, fashion and international events, noting that initiatives such as “Detty December” have boosted hospitality, transport and retail businesses.
Sanwo-Olu said the state would continue to promote entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, women’s participation and cultural heritage through its tourism policies, stressing that collaboration between government and the private sector remains essential to the sector’s growth.
Also speaking, BusinessDay Media Publisher Frank Aigbogun described tourism as one of Nigeria’s most underutilised opportunities for economic diversification, urging stakeholders to focus on investments and policies capable of creating jobs, attracting capital and making the country globally competitive.
