Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharmacits Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, has assured residents of the state that the fight against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic by the state government will not bring a total halt to the tourism and entertainment industry of the State.
Speaking on Tuesday at a ministerial press briefing commemorating the first year in office of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu held at JJT Park, Alausa, Ikeja, Akinbile-Yusuf stated that the economy of the state thrives significantly on the activities of practitioners in the sector who should not be kept out of job permanently.
The commissioner, who acknowledged the fact that the sector remains one of the worst hit sectors by the pandemic, maintained that it behooves the state government and practitioners in the sector to be ingenious in their approaches to the “new normal” which the economy of the world is assuming.
While making reference to the hosting of a premier and innovative drive-in concert in the state organised by a private firm in Lekki, the commissioner said that more creative and innovative approaches that would help resuscitate the sector without compromising safety of everyone would be welcomed and considered by the state government.
She revealed that the state government as part of efforts to ensure that the entertainment and tourism industry continues to thrive and contribute their quota to the state’s GDP constituted a committee headed by Joke Silva to provide advice to the state government on the best approach to adopt in reducing the impact of the pandemic on the practitioners and how the industry can go about its gradual reopening.
She said the governor approved the constitution of the six-member committee chaired by Mrs. Joke Silva and some other key professionals representing shades of sectors in the industry, adding that the committee is expected to submit their recommendations to the government in earnest.
Part of the expectations of the state government from members of the committee, according to the commissioner, is to advise the state government on what to do to rejuvenate the state economy, particularly the tourism and entertainment industry.
“We are now at a point where we need several creative dimensions to keep the social lifestyle of residents of the state alive moderately, while not compromising their safety and safety of others as well. With the size of the economy of Lagos and the number of businesses that operate here, the government cannot afford to keep people and businesses on lockdown permanently.”
She said that it is about time businesses tuned themselves to the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing that social distancing and good hygiene are now indispensable going forward until the war against the virus is finally won.
She, however, cautioned practitioners in the sector that the recovery process of the sector would not be sudden but gradual, assuring that if necessary precautionary measures are adhered to and operational guidelines followed, the industry in a steady manner will continue to experience a boom of economic activities going forward.
Akinbile-Yusuf stated that the intention of the state government is to ensure that the entertainment industry operates in a safe and healthy environment to create lasting positive memories, even as all sectors of the economy are now adjusting to the reality and lifestyle of the pandemic.
Speaking on Tuesday at a ministerial press briefing commemorating the first year in office of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu held at JJT Park, Alausa, Ikeja, Akinbile-Yusuf stated that the economy of the state thrives significantly on the activities of practitioners in the sector who should not be kept out of job permanently.
The commissioner, who acknowledged the fact that the sector remains one of the worst hit sectors by the pandemic, maintained that it behooves the state government and practitioners in the sector to be ingenious in their approaches to the “new normal” which the economy of the world is assuming.
While making reference to the hosting of a premier and innovative drive-in concert in the state organised by a private firm in Lekki, the commissioner said that more creative and innovative approaches that would help resuscitate the sector without compromising safety of everyone would be welcomed and considered by the state government.
She revealed that the state government as part of efforts to ensure that the entertainment and tourism industry continues to thrive and contribute their quota to the state’s GDP constituted a committee headed by Joke Silva to provide advice to the state government on the best approach to adopt in reducing the impact of the pandemic on the practitioners and how the industry can go about its gradual reopening.
She said the governor approved the constitution of the six-member committee chaired by Mrs. Joke Silva and some other key professionals representing shades of sectors in the industry, adding that the committee is expected to submit their recommendations to the government in earnest.
Part of the expectations of the state government from members of the committee, according to the commissioner, is to advise the state government on what to do to rejuvenate the state economy, particularly the tourism and entertainment industry.
“We are now at a point where we need several creative dimensions to keep the social lifestyle of residents of the state alive moderately, while not compromising their safety and safety of others as well. With the size of the economy of Lagos and the number of businesses that operate here, the government cannot afford to keep people and businesses on lockdown permanently.”
She said that it is about time businesses tuned themselves to the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing that social distancing and good hygiene are now indispensable going forward until the war against the virus is finally won.
She, however, cautioned practitioners in the sector that the recovery process of the sector would not be sudden but gradual, assuring that if necessary precautionary measures are adhered to and operational guidelines followed, the industry in a steady manner will continue to experience a boom of economic activities going forward.
Akinbile-Yusuf stated that the intention of the state government is to ensure that the entertainment industry operates in a safe and healthy environment to create lasting positive memories, even as all sectors of the economy are now adjusting to the reality and lifestyle of the pandemic.
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