By Lanre Adesanya
Lagos State House of Assembly Lawmaker and Chairman, House Committee on Tourism, Art and Culture, Hon. Desmond Elliot has partnered Road Transport Employers’ of Nigeria -RTEAN, Lagos State Branch to boost tourism ahead of Lagos at 50 celebration.
Hon. Elliot has said this during a Courtesy Call to RTEAN Lagos State Secretariat with Members of his Committee during their oversight function to Badagry, Epe and Akodo Resort Centre recently.
The Lawmaker established that “Transportation is key to tourism because tourists need to be transported from one point to the other”. He said the Committee decided to acknowledge the importance of RTEAN in the State, especially now that “Lagos at 50 celebration is nearer”.
Welcoming the Committee, Alhaji Musa Muhammed, the State Chairman of RTEAN applauds the Committee saying, “This is the first time any Arm of Government or its agencies has deemed it fit to visit our Secretariat”.
“We have never been recognised except during election because we have 20,000 members that are eligible voters in Lagos State”, he lamented.
He added that RTEAN is ready in any way possible to support the Government and its policies but was quick to complain that they were officially given 52 garages in 6 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in the State but none is operational.
A Member of the Committee and the House Chairman on Central Business District – CBD, Hon. Victor Akande confirmed that “Transportation cut across other Committees, so we need your assistance and collaboration, we will in turn come together to assist you”.
Other Members present, Hon. Solaja-Saka Nurudeen, House Committee Chairman on Science and Technology, Hon. Fatai Oluwa and Hon. Jude Idimogu commended Lagos RTEAN leadership for being so organised and coordinated.
Hon. Elliot promised that they will inform the House Leadership who will assist to communicate their plight to the appropriate quarters for earnest solution of the garage challenges”.
The Committee Chairman in his closing remark reiterated that Lagos Branch of RTEAN contributions to the development of the State are not in doubt.