Lokoja, the Kogi State capital was agog on Thursday 7th, October 2021 as it witnessed the fourt edition of Lokoja Boat Regatta festival that was organised by the Lokoja Forum of Patriot and Rajan venture LTD in collaboration with the Lokoja Traditional Council.
The festival was designed to showcase the diverse cultural heritage of the people in the area.
The Dan Darma of Lokoja ,Barr Naseer Ahmed,who was represented by Alh Ali Lawal,the Maiyaki of Lokoja, called on the Federal and state governments to pay more attention to the development of the tourism sector to create jobs for the youths in the country.
Ahmed said that the sector had been left undeveloped for too long at the detriment of the country’s economic development.
Barr Naseer Ahmed who spoke as the Chairman of the fourth edition of the Lokoja Boat Regatta Festival pleaded for a change of attitude to the sector from the two tiers of government.
According to him, the country has a lot to gain from the tourism sector because of its job creation and foreign exchange earning potentials.
The Chairman commended the Lokoja Forum of Patriots ( LFP) for resuscitating the boat regatta festival which he described as the traditional festival of the indigenous people of Lokoja.
Executive Chairman of Lokoja Local Government,Hon. Danasabe Muhammed Danasabe, in his speech said that he had initiated a move with the state government to develop the tourism sites in the council area.
Danasabe who was the Chief host of the event identified confluence of River Niger and River Benue, mount patti, Lord Luggard resting place , iron of liberty , World war cenotaph as some of tourist sites in Lokoja waiting to be developed to standards.
He pledged his total support for the festival , saying that the council will ensure that it holds on yearly basis henceforth.
In his welcome speech, Chairman of the Lokoja Forum of Patriots ( LFP), Alhaji Idris Babaango said that the organisation decided to leverage on the traditional festival to further promote unity and understanding among the various ethnic groups in the local government.
He also said that it was aimed at projecting the unique position of Lokoja in Nigeria and use its creative resources to attract local and foreign tourists.
Baba’ango thanked the people for embracing the festival enthusiastically, promising that efforts will be made to sustain and improve upon on subsequent editions.
He explained further that Lokoja local government has a lot of natural and creative resources to attract tourists to the community and state at large and therefore called on investors to invest more on tourism and culture.
The chairman commended the council boss for reestablished Durba which he said has reawaken the abundant abandoned tradition, especially sallah activities.
Baba’ango appealed to the state government and other well meaning individuals and corporate organisations to to render all necessary support to the forum to have a stress free ” Lokoja Boat Regatta.
“Our appeal goes to the Executive Chairman of Lokoja Local Goverment Council, Hon. Danasabe Muhammed Danasabe GYB Na Allah to kindly takeover the funding of this festival as it is the case with other area where similar event like this is done” he said.
He thanked HRH the Maigari of Lokoja , Alhaji Dr Muhammadu Kabir Maikarfi 111, Barr Naseer Ahmed the Dan Darma of Lokoja,Engineer Kilani Hassan for making this year edition successful.
Highlights of the events includes goodwill message from NIWA, Traditional rulers among many.
The event featured swimming,canoe pedalling competitions among seven districts while trophies and prizes were distributed to winners by the Royal father of the day and the Roggan of Eggan, Alhaji Alhassan Idris.
