Lagos moves to reform tourism, agric laws

The Lagos State Law Reform Commission, this week, began consultations with the Ministries of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Agriculture and Food Systems as part of efforts to review, modernise and harmonise laws governing two of the state’s strategic sectors.

The engagements, led by the commission’s Executive Secretary, Oluyemisi Ogunlola, focused on addressing legal gaps, eliminating overlapping regulatory functions and strengthening institutional frameworks to support governance, investment and sustainable development.

During a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ogunlola said the exercise was aimed at identifying grey areas in existing and proposed laws, particularly issues relating to overlapping mandates, revenue administration and the responsibilities of ministries, departments and agencies.

“We are examining areas where responsibilities intersect and ensuring that the legal framework provides clear institutional mandates before any amendment or harmonisation of the applicable laws,” she said.

The commission’s delegation was received by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Adebopo Oyekan-Ismaila, alongside representatives of agencies under the ministry.

Oyekan-Ismaila said the review presented an opportunity to strengthen the legal foundation of the tourism sector and align it with global best practices.

She expressed optimism that reforms to the state’s hotel licensing framework would improve regulatory effectiveness, enhance revenue generation and support the government’s ambition of positioning Lagos as Africa’s preferred tourism destination.

According to her, existing laws required updating to better regulate key segments of the industry, including beaches, hospitality establishments, film, arts and entertainment, leisure, conservation and nature-based tourism.

She also raised concerns over the growing number of unregistered resorts operating within the state and called for a stronger regulatory framework to bring them into compliance.

The permanent secretary further suggested a review of the name and mandate of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board to reflect a more business-oriented outlook and encourage growth within the creative sector.

Contributing to the discussions, Director of Legislative Drafting and Policy Advisory, Kemi Sowemimo, identified areas of regulatory overlap involving the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure and the Lagos State Safety Commission, while Senior State Counsel, Bola Williams, highlighted legal issues requiring separate legislative treatment, including hotel licensing, museums and monuments, the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, the Film and Video Censors Board and the JK Randle Centre.

Responding, Ogunlola assured stakeholders that any reforms affecting other government institutions would involve broader consultations before a final draft is produced.

“Statutory mandates must guide administrative responsibilities,” she said, adding that legal provisions should prevail where ministerial functions appear to overlap or conflict.

She disclosed that the commission would undertake further research into tourism-related institutions, including issues surrounding hotel licensing, the concession status of Freedom Park and the management of museums and monuments.

The review, she noted, could result in recommendations for institutional restructuring or mergers where necessary, drawing on international best practices.

The commission also met with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Emmanuel Audu, and heads of agencies under the ministry to advance discussions on reforms in the agricultural sector.

Ogunlola recalled the commission’s earlier work on the review of 11 agriculture-related bills and said additional consultations had become necessary because of the technical nature of the sector and the critical role of private-sector stakeholders.

“The next phase will involve wider stakeholder engagement to obtain feedback from key actors and strengthen the proposed legal framework,” she said.

She added that the commission would continue to seek inputs from the ministry and its agencies to ensure that reforms remain practical, responsive and focused on implementation.

In his remarks, Audu commended the commission’s efforts and pledged the ministry’s full cooperation throughout the review process.

He said arrangements would be made for further consultations aimed at developing a stronger legal and regulatory framework capable of supporting agricultural growth and food security in Lagos State.

The consultations form part of the Lagos State Law Reform Commission’s broader mandate to review and modernise state laws to ensure they remain relevant to emerging realities while promoting regulatory efficiency, institutional clarity and sustainable development across critical sectors of the economy.