Governor Sanwo-Olu’s support for private-sector tourism is attracting a growing wave of diaspora investment to Lagos, exemplified by projects like Giwa Gardens Water Park.
According to The Vanguard, the multi-billion-naira facility, developed by UK-based Nigerian entrepreneur, Keji Giwa, has become one of the clearest indicators that Lagos’ tourism sector is experiencing a structural shift driven by government reforms, faster regulatory approvals and strengthened public-private collaboration.
Since opening in December 2023, the 12,100sqm water park in Sangotedo has attracted thousands of visitors and boosted commercial activity across the Lekki–Epe corridor. The project, now regarded as one of the largest water-based leisure destinations in West Africa, has created jobs, stimulated ancillary businesses and heightened investor interest in the Sangotedo entertainment axis. Speaking on the state’s support for such initiatives, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Idris Aregbe, said the administration has deliberately prioritised investor engagement, policy clarity and infrastructure renewal to attract both local and diaspora participation in the entertainment and leisure economy.
READ: Africa: Lagos Tourism, NBC Trade Fair Targets ₦5bn Sales
According to him, Lagos has adopted a partnership-driven model that links tourism investors with relevant agencies, financial institutions and development partners while easing approvals that previously discouraged diaspora entrepreneurs. Aregbe noted that projects like Giwa Gardens reflect the impact of the “open-door, fast-response” governance style championed by Governor Sanwo-Olu, adding that consistency in policy has played a key role in repositioning Lagos as a viable global leisure destination.
Though stakeholders highlight lingering challenges such as high operating costs, infrastructure gaps and long-term maintenance concerns, the state government says ongoing reforms are addressing these issues. The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and the Eti-Osa LCDA have already conducted assessments for road, drainage and lighting improvements around the Sangotedo corridor, with upgrades expected in subsequent phases of the Lekki–Epe renewal works.
Giwa Gardens’ management expressed optimism that improved access roads will further unlock the facility’s economic potential, noting that its continued expansion depends on sustained government investment in critical infrastructure, particularly power, drainage and road connectivity. Beyond tourism, Lagos officials say reforms in land-use approvals, infrastructure financing and public-sector responsiveness have helped reposition the state from a “high-risk” market to a destination increasingly embraced by diaspora investors seeking transparency, reliability and partnership.
Analysts contend that maintaining this momentum will require deepened collaboration between government and private operators, targeted incentives, and a long-term commitment to environmental sustainability and community inclusion. For many observers, Giwa Gardens has become more than a leisure park—it is symbolic of Lagos’ growing confidence, renewed governance culture and the possibilities unlocked when diaspora ambition meets an enabling state framework. As Lagos pushes toward its goal of becoming a global mega-city, stakeholders say its continued strength will lie in cooperation, government setting direction, private investors taking risks and communities embracing shared prosperity.
