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To
be held in Abuja, November 2006. Details
to come.
Nigeria is a vast country with about 932,
768 sq. km land mass, located wholly
within the tropics. The country, aptly
described as the "Giant of Africa" is
richly endowed with ecological and
cultural resources.”
Nigeria:
A tourism destination full of
challenges
by
Helen C. Broadus
 I
had the wonderful opportunity to
participate in a Familiarization (FAM)
Tour to Nigeria, West Africa this past
October as a member of Tourism Consortium
International (TCI). The overall purpose
of this trip was to experience the level
of readiness of Nigeria's travel and
tourism infrastructure to include its
hotel accommodations, air and road
transportation, hospitality amenities and
security services. This journey was made
possible by the efforts of Chief Margaret
B. Fabiyi, Nigeria's ASTA Chapter
President, who was able to have KLM Royal
Dutch Airlines and the Nigerian Tourism
Development Corporation (NTDC) co-sponsor
the two-week program. Click
here
or on above photos for more pictures and
captions.
Two
weeks of discovery
My colleagues and I really looked forward
with wide-eyed anticipation to discovering
Nigeria, 'Africa's Giant in the Sun,'
because of what we had heard regarding its
great natural beauty and the friendliness
of its people. I was very interested in
learning more about Nigeria, which has
over 2,000 years of tradition and culture,
with a unique combination of ancient and
modern lifestyles. This very physically
demanding two-week itinerary provided
everyone with a fantastic opportunity to
visit several historically and culturally
significant tourism venues in over a dozen
cities within eight states in Nigeria,
West Africa to include Lagos and Badagry
in Lagos
State, Abuja, the Federal Capital, Lafia
in Nassarawa State, Jos in Plateau State,
Yankari in Bauchi State, Umuahia and
Arochukwu in Abia State, and last but most
interesting, Oshogbo in Osun State.
(see
map of Nigeria)
Contact
the Nigeria Tourism Development
Corporation
http://www.nigeriatourism.net/main.htm
 Airport
services improved
As we arrived in Nigeria at the Murtala
Mohammed International Airport in Lagos,
we were quite surprised at the relative
ease in our processing through immigration
and customs. Much to our pleasure we were
told that both the Ministry of Aviation
and the Ministry of Tourism have done an
excellent job in alleviating the extreme
bottlenecks that travelers were accustomed
to experience upon arriving in Nigeria.
Our first stop was to Badagry in Lagos
State, which was a strategic trading port
during the infamous transatlantic slave
trade period and the first mission post
during the advent of Christian
missionaries in Nigeria.
“The
potential role of the tourism sector as
a major instrument for socio-economic
development cannot be overemphasized.
These potentials cannot be realised
unless our numerous tourist attractions
are well developed, packed and
promoted, with diligent attention to
security and welfare of visitors.
Nigeria Tourism Official web site is
set to serve as the mouth piece of
stakeholders in the pushing for
positive changes in this all-important
sector. You are therefore, invited to
be part of this exciting
development.”
Bagadry
and the Slave Route
During our visit in Badagry, we made a
courtesy visit to see the King, Oba Akran
of Badagry and took a Special Tour of the
Palace Slave Relic Museum, Walked the Old
Slave Route and ended up at the Slave
Jetty where millions of slaves were
off-loaded to be shipped abroad to an
unknown destination. We also had a chance
to briefly visit the impressive white
sandy beaches at the Whispering Palm Beach
Resort. Overall, my impression of Badagry
was that it offers tremendous potential
for cultural tourism as well as provides a
great place to simply relax and enjoy the
beautiful oceanfront
atmosphere.
 Abuja,
the Federal Capital
On our next stop we flew into Abuja, the
Federal Capital of Nigeria. I was very
impressed by the recent renovations that
were being made at Nnamdi Azikwe
International Airport and was pleased to
learn that the Nigerian government was
really serious about improving the
infrastructure of its airports for
incoming tourists and business people. My
impression of Abuja was that it is truly a
'City of the Future' set in a scenic
environment which reminded me very much of
Denver, Colorado. Located approximately
one hour by air from Lagos, Abuja has
excellent conference and accommodation
facilities with the Nicon Noga Hilton
Hotel and Sheraton Abuja Hotel and Towers
as the two main places to stay in Abuja,
although many other hotels are being
constructed. Throughout Abuja there is
much construction going on and the people
truly exhibit an excitement about living
in what is perhaps the most modern city in
Africa.
Nigeria
Tourism
While in Abuja, we had an opportunity to
meet with the Executive Director of the
Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation,
(NTDC) Mrs. Omotayo Omotoso and her staff,
during which time we discussed areas of
focus and strategies for the improvement
of the travel and tourism infrastructure
of Nigeria. Later that evening, we had a
wonderful dinner hosted by the NTDC and
then took a nighttime city tour which
reminded me very much of Washington D.C.
with all of the monuments and federal
buildings lit up. It was also interesting
to discover that night life in Abuja
appears to be very busy, with many of the
local people and tourists alike out and
about shopping at marketplaces, eating at
restaurants and dancing at
discos.
Nassawara
and Bauchi States
The next day, our fantastic ten-day
journey traversing the Nigerian
countryside began! Our first stop was to
Nassawara State. Here, we visited Lafia
the capital city, which is blessed with
precious mineral deposits and learned how
the state government was in the process of
conducting a tourism master plan to create
a resort facility on the outskirts of
Abuja. Nassawara State is full of
impressive eco-tourism scenery to include
its majestic Farin Ruwa Water Falls, the
third largest natural waterfalls in the
world. Next, we traveled to Bauchi State
to visit the Yankari National Park with
its Wikki Hot Springs. This immense
wilderness area has tremendous potential
for safari excursions and outdoor
recreational activities.
Jos
and Plateau State
Next, we visited Jos the capital city of
Plateau State, which is a favorite tourist
destination because of its high altitude
(approximately 1,320 meters above sea
level) and temperate climate year round.
Jos is an area full of amazing natural
rock formations to include Sherre Hills,
Riyom Rock Formation, Kahwang Bassalt Rock
Formation, Kerang Volcano and Wase Rock as
well as the magnificent Assop Water Falls.
The people of Jos treated us to a
wonderful evening reception with cultural
entertainment. On the next day, we had an
opportunity to visit their Museum of
Nigerian History as well as briefly shop
at the marketplace in Jos.
Abia
'God's Own' State
After visiting these fascinating locations
in the northeast, we headed south towards
Abia State, affectionately referred to as
'God's Own State' It was here that we were
really treated to the unique Nigerian
traditions and cultures of its people,
with a particular emphasis on Nigeria's
role in the infamous slave trade. It was
here that we experienced the Ikoro Bende
legend in the ancient town of Bende, which
was the first Colonial Divisional
Headquarters of towns such as Aba,
Umuahia, and Arochukwu. The history of
Bende dates back to the period of slave
trade and the extermination of the Long
Juju at Arochukwu. It was here that our
group was lead down the infamous slave
trail crossing the mysterious hidden
stream and then on to the secret shrine.
At this shrine, the captives took part in
rituals, which would determine their
'guilt or innocence' and whether they
would be set free or pass through the
'tunnel of no return', never to be seen
again.
While in
Abia State, we also visited the land of
the Igbo people and were exposed to
several impressive welcoming festivals
full of sounds, colors and sights. We also
had the opportunity to visit several
historic sites that are becoming
recognized by the Nigerian people as
extremely important to their ancestor's
involvement and participation in the
infamous slave trade. One very important
site, which evoked strong emotional
reactions, was the Museum of Antiquities
Ujari in Arochukwu. Relics found here were
collected through trade by barter with the
slave traders. Most fascinating are the
1892 big bell, cannons, ancient
chandeliers, large metal gongs, slave
chains, hand and leg cuffs, brass plates,
basins, buckets and silver jugs all
believed to be from the slave trade era.
My impression of these developing sites is
that given the proper amount of research
and resources, they could easily compete
with the more frequently visited slave
heritage sites of Senegal, Benin and Ghana
in West Africa.
Osun
State and River
Next we traveled west to Oshogbo in Osun
State and visited the mystical shrine to
the goddess of the Osun River and learned
about the traditional ceremonial festivals
that are highly revered throughout all of
Nigeria. We also had the opportunity to
pay a courtesy visit to His Royal
Highness, Ataoja of Oshogbo as well as
visit several arts and handicrafts shops
in downtown Oshogbo. Our visit into
downtown Oshogbo was a fascinating
cultural excursion where we discovered the
highly skilled carvers creating beautiful
handicrafts that are renowned throughout
Africa and beyond. Also, the night market
was full of busy people shopping and
selling their goods to one
another.
Hospitality
and Protocol
Throughout all that we experienced, the
one thing that stood out most during our
travels was our exposure to Nigerian
protocol. Nowhere in my travels throughout
the Continent of Africa have I ever been
exposed to such formalities as when we
visited the Federal Officials, State
Governors, Prime Secretaries, State
Tourism Commissioners, Kings and their
Courts. In every state we were exposed to
extensive protocol rituals as we made
official visits and attended welcoming
ceremonies, which was a true reflection of
Nigeria's gracious hospitality and
heightened excitement upon greeting our
TCI delegation from America.
In conclusion, although the tourism
infrastructure in Nigeria is not as
developed as in other places in Africa,
Nigeria offers perhaps the best variety of
tourist attractions and destinations in
West Africa. American tourists will
discover numerous unique scenic
attractions which differ from one place to
another scattered throughout Nigeria that
will allow them to experience and enjoy
the people of Nigeria as they come in
contact with the fascinating history,
ancient traditions and varied customs of
Nigeria's proud heritage. The members of
TCI's delegation found that by conducting
this FAM Tour, we discovered an unseen
section of the African Continent once
considered to be 'well off the beaten
path' and thus gained a greater
appreciation of Nigeria's people, culture
and history. Our congratulations to Chief
Margaret B. Fabiyi, who did a fabulous job
in hosting the TCI Delegation. She really
'rolled out the red carpet' for everyone
and we all left with fond memories of our
visit to Nigeria that will surely last a
lifetime!
Helen
C. Broadus is the President of Venue
International Professionals, Inc. (VIP) a
full-service travel and tourism consulting
firm based in the Washington Metropolitan
Area. She is a member of the Africa Travel
Association (ATA) and currently serves as
the International Secretary of the
organization. She can be contacted at
1-877-TO-VENU
Contact
the Nigeria Tourism Development
Corporation
http://www.nigeriatourism.net/main.htm
@nigeriatourism.net
tel: +234 9 2347725
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