Ambode on tourism notice

In a recent commentary on National Arts Theatre, Iganmu where Lagos governor Akinwunmi Ambode has shown more than a passing interest, I had alerted the governor to also revisit the national stadium, Nigeria’s iconic sport tourism complex and bring it again back to life. I am not surprised that the upbeat Lagos governor took to that advice and over the weekend, made a case for the restoration of the sport complex when he visited mourning Sports minister, Solomon Dalung in Abuja.

By this singular act and show of strategic development of Lagos through sports, entertainment and tourism, Governor Ambode has more than put tourism development and promotion on notice in Nigeria. So far, this highly energetic man from Epe division of Lagos remains unequalled by any Governor in Nigeria on frontal approach to issues of tourism development.

Late last year and sometimes early this year, I was in Epe and Badagry waterfronts to clinically study Ambode’s top drive for tourism, particularly the futuristic inter play of the ocean economy and marine ecology not only to drive local economy in the state but also to put on public notice the institution of protection of the fragile marine ecosystem to which Lagos as a coastal destination is a natural beneficiary.

Though works at those two waterfront sites were a bit slow and un cheering, it is however a strong indication that Ambode wants to grow Lagos into a multi tourism infrastructure complex with visible offerings that cut across tourist visitors demands and expectations.

Indeed, Ambode’s call for renovation and restoration of the National Stadium in Surulere of Lagos is a call on the restoration and revival sports tourism that has no political rascality to it but a realistic option from a man and a leader sincerely committed and deposed to making a lifetime change for his people through progressive tourism culture.

It is however sad that governor Ambode has no one effectively in charge to help interpret his tourism goals, agenda and use same to generate and sustain effective and progressive public perception and media mileage for his administration. To me, every road, rail and waterfront infrastructure development, intention and true governance appearance must find expression in public domain not just for political gain(s) but as vehicle to carry the people along in the governor’s determined steps to make a change.

On this expectation, the governor image handlers are lacking. The handlers are locked in, afraid thereby allowing the governor to drive the initiative. There is a “miscurve” and strange barriers between the governor’s media (information) and the tourism team which has failed so far to come up with “an interpretative” public and media template that can build a strong forth of tourism political and administrative goodwill for the governor.

Specifically on my watch and observation, governor Ambode appears less trusting of his information and tourism aides and positively goes about his tourism mission all alone. I must add that his body language shows that he has now assumed the tourism commissionership and is running the tourism revival in Lagos as a lone ranger.

Honestly, and except mercy overrides judgment, I know it’s impossible for governor Ambode to recall his friend and former commissioner for tourism, Mr. Folarin Coker, who from all aspects of perception, was Ambode’s God gifted initiator and interpreter of Lagos tourism rebound. There is no denying the fact that Governor Ambode lost an effective team player in Folarin Coker and that “incident” may take long to be addressed.

Truly, if I have my way, the governor and Folarin Coker should be reconciled for the sake of every good thing that can and will over happen to Lagos tourism in this hard times and generation. As a Christian, I believe that forgiveness is a life time virtue and separates good men such as Ambode and Coker from a world filled with hatred and ego.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has shown capacity for Lagos tourism turn around but he needs serious people such Folarin Coker to interpret and grow a sustainable tourism culture for Lagosians. Folarin Coker is my very good friend no doubt but we became friends because he is patriotic and passionate about Lagos tourism to which Ambode rightly and at inception appointed him as commissioner for tourism.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu must bring them together again, at least, for the fruitful bearing of tourism for Lagos and Nigeria at large. The derelict and abandoned federal secretariat in Ikoyi is another place that deserves governor Ambode’s attention. In the last few weeks, I had found myself within the vicinity of this huge abandoned complex and I wept for Nigeria.

Lagos government can do more than a massive shopping complex with the structure or better still convert it into creative tourism money bank as food court with diverse culinary offerings locally and internationally. Across the road lies the Osborne foreshore which can be recreated as water based tourism cluster to the foodies’ court to which the federal secretariat can be transformed as a destination. Can Ambode go for this dream place and turn waste to tourism wealth? Let’s watch and pray.