Lagos to harmonise conflicting hotel licensing fees, permits

Relief may be coming the way of investors in the hospitality industry in Lagos, as the state government has indicated readiness to harmonise conflicting tourism laws, permits and licensing fees in what is aimed at encouraging investments to unleash the full potential of tourism in state.

Folorunso Folarin-Coker, commissioner for tourism, arts and culture, who disclosed this, Thursday, identified the conflict areas as Hotel Licensing Law Cap H6, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003; Hotel Licensing (Amendment) Law of 2010 and list of Local Government Permits and Licenses applicable to hotels and hospitality related businesses in the state.

“There had been complaints by the operators within the industry that they were being saddled with multiple charges and that the charges be consolidated. We have thus proceeded to request for assistance of the Ministry of Justice on the possible harmonisation of all tourism related permits and licensing fees charged across the state to ensure the eradication of multiple charges,” Folarin-Coker said.

Among other measures also, the state is to overhaul the Badagry Heritage Museum and other heritage sites to further boost tourism.

Folarin-Coker said the findings to ascertain the state of the Badagry Heritage Museum and other heritage sites revealed the urgent need to arrest the continued deterioration of their facilities.

According to Folarin-Coker, the Badagry museum needs “adequate and functional facilities, modern infrastructure to cope with the expectation of visitors and tourists as well as capacity building, training and manpower development of the staff to manage a modern museum.”

Speaking on the agreement between the state and the Federal Government to upgrade the National Museum at Onikan, Lagos, he said the plan was to make the museum a pride for all Nigerian and a befitting tourist centre within the state.

He said the monument would be upgraded into a more befitting international standard museum in preparation for the celebration of Lagos at 50 coming up in 2017. The commissioner also informed that the state was collaborating with foreign partners to promote Lagos as the most desirable destination for tourism in Africa.