Lagos Urges Traditional Groups to Seek Approval Before Festivals

The Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture has called on registered traditional associations across the state to get government approval before holding any festival.

The awareness program, themed “No Approval, No Celebration of Festivals,” was held to educate stakeholders on why official clearance is needed before organizing festivals and other traditional gatherings.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Solomon Bonu, said the government is working on a single legal framework to regulate the activities of traditional practitioners. He added that plans are also in motion to unite different traditional groups under one shared celebration day, similar to how Christian and Muslim communities mark their holidays.

Mrs. Adebopo Oyekan-Ismaila, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, was represented by the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Taoreed Dosumu. She stressed that approval is not just a legal requirement, but also important for security, proper coordination, and the safety of celebrants and the public.

Also speaking, the Director/CEO of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, Idowu Johnson, represented by Olumide Somoye, urged traditional institutions to always follow due process. He said compliance will help ensure that festivals are orderly, peaceful, and successful statewide.

Dignitaries at the event included Chief Folusho Adeogun, the Aholu of Ajara Agamathen Kingdom in Badagry and First Vice President of the Association of African Traditional Religion Practitioners of Nigeria and Overseas, AATREN. Also present was Prof. Oguntola Laguda, Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Lagos State University, along with traditional rulers, scholars, and leaders of registered traditional groups.