PROMOTING DESTINATIONS IN NIGERIA by Ayodele Kadiri
Check out some really snazzy tourist attractions in Nigeria.
Therefore, as we celebrate 56 years of nationhood this October, it seems like the best time to redirect our attention to some of the really snazzy tourist attractions in Nigeria.
- Waterfalls and Springs
For most of us, the two names that pop up in our minds are the Erin Ijesha Waterfalls of Osun State and Ikogosi Warm/Cold Water Spring in Ekiti state. Others include the Gurara Waterfalls in Niger State, Owu Waterfalls in Kwara State, Agbokim Waterfalls in Cross River State, Awhum Falls in Enugu state, Assop Falls in Plateau State and the Enemabia Warm Spring of Benue State.
- Resorts
You are probably thinking of the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort or the Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River State. Here are some others that may interest you: the Oguta Lake Holiday Complex in Imo State, the Rojenny Tourist Village in Anambra State, the MicCom Golf Hotels and Resort, Ada, Osun State; Ibom Meridien Golf Hotel and Resort in Akwa Ibom State.
- National Parks
The Yankari National Park in Bauchi State, which used to be a games reserve from 1956 when it was established up until 1991 when it was designated a park and the Millennium Park in Abuja probably ring a bell. Nigeria has quite a number of wildlife conservation parks. The list includes the Lekki Conservation Centre in Lagos, the National Children’s Park and Zoo in Abuja, the GashakaGumti National Park which is in both Taraba and Adamawa States, the Cross River National Park, the Okomu National Park in Edo State, the Kamuku National Park in Kaduna, the Kainji Lake National Park in Niger State and the Jos Wildlife Park. There are other parks that are not for wildlife conservation, but just for recreation. A few examples include the Isaac Boro Garden Park in Rivers State, the Nsulu Games Village in Abia State and the Wonderland Amusement Park in Abuja.
- Beaches
Surprisingly, there are beaches outside Lagos State and, yes, the Bar Beach and the La Campagne Tropicana are not the only beaches in Lagos. There are the Maiyegun Beach, the Coconut Beach in Badagry and the Eleko Beach amongst others. Outside Lagos, you will find the Ifoko Beach in Port Harcourt, the Ibeno Beach in Akwa Ibom and the Port Harcourt Tourist Beach.
- Museums
You are probably thinking, ‘Apart from the National Museum in Lagos, what other museums could there possibly be in Nigeria? ’If so, then you are wrong. There is the Benin City National Museum in Edo State. We also have the National War Museum, Umuahia, Abia State; the Badagry Heritage Museum and the Nana Living History Museum in Delta State.
- Hills and Rocks
We have an abundance of this in Nigeria. Some include the Zuma Rock in Abuja, Olumo Rock in Ogun State, the Idanre Hill in Ondo State, etc.
- Historic Sites
These sites may not be protected under any Nigerian law, but they are of immense cultural, historical and social significance to the people in the geographical areas where they are situated. They include the Ogbunike Caves in Anambra State, the Osun-Osogbo Grove in Osun State, the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State, the Arochukwu Long Juju Slave Route in Abia State, Giant Footprint of Ukhuse Oke in Edo State, AlokIkom Monoliths in Cross River State, Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin, Sukur Cultural Landscape in Adamawa State, Surame Cultural Landscape in Sokoto State, Queen Amina’s Wall in Kaduna State, Ancient Kano City Walls, the Ancient Nok Settlement in Kaduna State, the Emotan Statue in Edo State and the Silicon Hill in Enugu.
Interestingly, the Sukur Cultural Landscape and the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove are the only two Nigerian tourists locations amongst the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. So using this list, I expect you to have the courage to explore the sites and sounds of Nigeria.
You are definitely welcome!!!
