With the gradual lift in lockdown across several sectors of the nation, the Lagos State Government has adopted and hosted its premier and innovative drive-in concert to reinvigorate the entertainment sector in the state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued Sunday, where the agency expressed that it supervised the drive-in concert to ensure compliance with COVID-19 safety guidelines.
According to the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, the drive-in concert was organised by Lapazio Lifestyles and Entertainment Group at the Bay Lounge, on Admiralty Way, Lekki.
Fasawe added that the state government gave the concert the green light and adequately supervised for total compliance with all stipulated safety guidelines.
“The state government is beginning to ease the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and safely reinvigorate the entertainment landscape after a long break,” she emphasised.
The drive-in concert event is globally accepted as a new model for hosting safe entertainment events. This has been in practice across the globe with some religious centres since the outbreak of the virulent COVID-19 pandemic.
The event had about 50 vehicles in attendance, parked in line with physical distancing guidelines in line with the government’s recommendations.
The attendees were said to be safely seated in their vehicles enjoying the tunes of popular musician Mayokun within the marked spaces.
Officers of the Lekki Zonal Office of LASEPA, led by Yetunde Atoyebi, in line with the monitoring guidelines and mandate of the agency supervised the show.
“Lagos, being a prime destination for entertainment and leisure events in Africa, should not be left behind in this new trend that ensures that fans connect with their favourite musicians or idols without breaking COVID-19 safety and environmental regulations,” she noted.
In her views, society benefits from entertainment. “This adds structure to our social lives”. The drive-in concert aims ensure that the entertainment world can operate in a safe and healthy environment to create lasting positive memories, as the state adjusts to the post COVID-19 lifestyle.
The GM further acknowledged that although the event was successful, there was room for improvement. “The agency intends to do a thorough evaluation of the event and subsequently come up with a more robust plan for the future while extending the scheme to other relevant sectors”.
“Our goal is to support the entertainment sector in tandem with outlined social distancing and environmental protocols which will attract heavy sanction if violated or defaulted flagrantly to serve as a deterrent to others,” Fasawe said.
She said the event was a test run for the new normal and the success recorded was a win for all and guide for future events in the state, adding that Lagos places a high premium on the lives of all its residents, thus the need to adopt new approaches that safeguarded the citizenry.
