Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to transform the Badagry axis of the state and make it Africa’s tourism hub.
Governor Sanwo-Olu who spoke during a working tour and visit to Badagry Tourism sites and projects said the ancient city of Badagry, with many historical and tourist sites, has a lot to offer in tourism.
According to him, the visit is aimed at getting firsthand knowledge of the needs and challenges of the people of Badagry, thereby paving the way for continued progress and development.
Sanwo-Olu, who was accompanied by Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, members of the Lagos State Executive Council and Lagos State House of Assembly, as well as officials of the Lagos State Dispora Commission, visited the Slave Market Museum International Vlekete Badagry, which was recently restored and upgraded by the administration.
He also visited the Badagry Heritage Museum, the seat of the fallen Agia Tree where Christianity was first preached in 1842, the first-storey building in Nigeria, the first Christian burial site, the Hospital Road construction project, and the Old Governor’s Lodge, a purpose-built 70-room and hotel complex.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also took a boat ride to the Point of No Return, where slaves were taken to different parts of the world during the slave trade era.
Fielding questions from journalists during the working tour, Governor Sanwo-Olu said his administration will complete ongoing projects in Badagry and restock some of the heritage sites to tell a compelling story about what Badagry holds for the tourism potential of Nigeria.
He said: “The visit is really part of our tourism ecosystem, and I have had to come and see things for myself to evaluate what we have done, additional things that we need to do, and how we intentionally make Badagry, an all of the tourism potential that it has, a real destination.
“For us, it is to complete the ongoing projects that we have seen, to restock some of the heritage sites that we have seen, to generally preserve what we have, and to speak a compelling story about what Badagry holds for the tourism potential of our country.
“You have also seen that Badagry actually has a major face. There are lots of roads that you have seen, including dual carriage roads that are nearing completion, and you have all seen that we came around the last time to open a hospital. You have seen roads that have been done extensively.’’
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