FG to support the growth of tourism in Badagry

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

Lola Ade-John, Nigeria's Minister of Tourism, has stated that the Federal Government will assist Badagry's tourism industry to grow and thrive in the coming years. She also praised Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan for organising the working visit, which introduced her to the tourism potential of Badagry, an ancient and historic city in Nigeria.

The Minister made the commitment on April 3rd, 2024, in Badagry, during a stakeholder engagement organised by Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, House of Representatives member for Badagry Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.

After hearing the concerns and issues raised by various stakeholders in Badagry's tourism sector, Ade-John stated that the current administration, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will investigate various options for developing Badagry's tourism potential.

She lamented that, while the federal government could do little or nothing this year due to the non-budgetary allocation of 2024 for Badagry tourism, she promised that her ministry, the Ministry of Tourism, would include projects that would improve tourism development in Badagry in future budgets of the current administration.

The Minister charged the community, stakeholders, relevant governments, and agencies with making the environment clean enough to promote Badagry as Nigeria's true tourism hub.

Sesi Whingan, the House of Representatives member for Badagry Federal Constituency, welcomed the honourable minister and thanked him for accepting his invitation to Badagry.

He stated that his invitation to the minister to visit Badagry and learn firsthand about the city's tourist potential fulfils a campaign promise made to his constituents.

"The presence of the Minister of Tourism and his Lagos State counterpart here today emphasises the importance of promoting and preserving our cultural heritage and natural beauty. It represents a renewed commitment to promoting Badagry's distinctive attractions to both domestic and international visitors, thereby stimulating economic growth and fostering community development.

"Let us seize this chance to engage with the Ministry of Tourism, leveraging our combined efforts to promote Badagry as a top cultural tourism destination in Nigeria."

"As part of my campaign commitment to the great people of Badagry, I promoted and developed the city's tourism potential for economic growth and prosperity." I have focused, among other things, on protecting Badagry mines from the benefits of tourism." Sesi said in the welcome address.

During the engagement, Badagry's tourism industry stakeholders, led by Babatunde Ajose, a tourism entrepreneur, historian, and writer, presented the honourable Minister with a position paper on Badagry tourism development.

The paper addressed several issues, challenges, and impediments to Badagry's tourism development. The paper also proposed immediate development of the historic town's various tourism potentials, with the goal of unlocking its tourism potential and elevating it to a global destination following her visit, which was organised by Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, a national assembly member from Badagry.

The Minister promised that her ministry would support and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to involve and promote diaspora festivals, among other things, in Badagry. She also stated that the FG will investigate the construction of the Door of Return and other initiatives aimed at promoting tourism in Badagry.