LASG Promises Calm at Lagos Street Carnival

Yinka Olatunbosun

The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has promised Lagosians that there would be calm during the Lagos Street Carnival scheduled for December 3.

Plans are in top gear by the state Government to shut down a major road in the city’s capital, Oba Akran Avenue for its annual Lagos Street Carnival on December 3. This was disclosed in a brief meeting with the Commissioner and Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Adesola at the State Secretariat, Alausa.

Dubbed, “Lagos Street Party’’ in its maiden edition, the event has grown into a carnival to mark the start of the ministry’s end of the year activities. It is also designed to celebrate the multi-cultural nature of Lagosians and reposition the state as a formidable cultural destination.

To this end, several adjoining roads would be closed on the day of the carnival while alternative routes could be accessed by road users. The Commissioner revealed why the venue was moved from the island to the mainland this year.

“This year, we are bringing it to the mainland. Of course, next year, we will be looking at another location.

The aim of government is to take this all around Lagos. It is not a programme that will be static in just one location. The Governor has promised Lagosians that he is going to run a government of inclusion where no one will be left behind. Not in infrastructure alone but in every sense of governance and he has been doing that systematically since he became the Governor of Lagos State. You know, Lagos is the centre of excellence,’’ she said.

The events include parade, floats, dance and loads of music from DJs as well as performing artists. Also, each local government will be represented during the parade as well as ethnic groups amongst the residents in Lagos. As regards the target audience for the show, Hon. Adesola stated that the carnival is thrown open to all.

“The programme is not going to be for adults alone. The children will have their own corner and family will also have their own side. We have drawn artists from different genres. We have artists from hip hop, Fuji, Waka, Gospel artists on the bill. We have cultural groups that will also come. The programme will start at 12 noon. Small scale entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to sell their wares at the venue. We have also prepared for the security of lives and properties around the venue,’’ she disclosed.

Meanwhile, the Lagos Street Carnival is powered by the private sector to ensure that this event remains on Lagos State cultural calendar even with the succession of new administration.

In terms of security, Hon. Adesola assured Lagosians and visitors that efforts are in place to ensure that the venue and environs are safe and incident-free.

“We expect more visitors this year and a lot more will be coming. And in terms of security and crowd control, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is not working alone. We are working with LASTMA, Security, FRSC, Fire service, LASAMBUS and the LAWMA. All of them are onboard. You are not going to see Oba Akran on Monday in a dirty state,’’ she said.

For Lagos state, this annual cultural event is a source of revenue generation for as visitors from other states lodge at Lagos hotels, the state derives its consumption tax.

The line-up of artists include Olamide, Lil Kesh, Queen Salawa Abeni, Malaika, Tope Sax amongst others.