We Did Not Buy Sunburn Yacht Hotel – LASG

The Lagos State Government on Friday emphasized that it neither bought nor had an obligation for Sunburn Yacht Hotel, a royal boat which docked on the waterfront of Marina for a very long time before disappearing in mysterious circumstances.

Commissioner for Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Disun Holloway made the revelation while speaking at the annual ministerial press briefing in Lagos.

He said the Yacht was a private initiative adding that it was to be refurbished in Ghana. He however said that the state government is looking at ways to make it part of the tourism experience in Lagos State.

The Sunburn Yacht was first introduced to journalists few days after docking on the Marina waterfront by the former Commissioner for Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi who spoke in glowing terms about it. The Yacht has been sighted in London since it disappeared from Lagos.

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On the policy of outsourcing events, he said it was Governor Babatunde Fashola’s idea whom he said set up committees to oversee the Black Heritage Festival, Boat Regatta, Carnival and Eyo Festival. He said the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka was put in charge of Black Heritage, Professor Jawando in charge of Regatta while he was in charge of the carnival before he became commissioner.

He said the governor opted for the private sector because they are better mangers of events of that magnitude while the role of government is just to provide enabling environment for the private sector to operate.