Tourism

COVID-19: As tourism suffers, Lufasi Park uplifts nature conservation as safe haven

Published

6 years ago

December 23, 2020

By Ebere Chibuzor

Over three decades ago, Desmond Majekodunmi acquired 20 hectares of land along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, near May Fair and Fara Park Estate, Ajah Lagos, with the goal of transforming it from a heavily forested area into an agro forestry farm and later into a private nature park, popularly known as LUFASI, an acronym for Lekki Urban Forestry and Animal Sanctuary Initiative.

But the Lufasi Nature Park Chief Gardener Majek as he is known had just had success creating what the nature conservation society believes is one of the most bio-diverse protected areas in Lagos.

He pointed out that “Lufasi is already a complete entity; one of the things we are promoting in Lufasi Nature park is to protect nature. The only additions will be including more flower gardens and more trees because it’s a nature park. The whole purpose is to get people into enjoying the wonderful benefits of associating with nature. The benefits are very good health for your body, mind and soul.”

He also said, “The park is a very safe environment and it also allows people to appreciate the importance of protecting nature because if we do not protect nature, nature cannot protect us. Nature is our life support system. Everything we need to stay alive comes from nature; so we need to protect nature. This is why all the scriptures of the major religions are very clear that mankind is meant to be a good steward and care for the creation.”

Security is paramount as the local communities such as the Bashorun, the Abijoh and the Idiagbon Alayande are always happy and very proud of them. The police send their patrols regularly to see around. They have never encountered any ugly incident.

You might have heard stories, or have visited the beaches, festivals, monuments and even parks but the experience in Lufasi is quite unique and nothing prevents one from visiting this eco-tourism destination. The most famous area is the Ekki Forest with its red iron wood which breathes out large amount of the free oxygen that the tourists enjoy so much as they refresh themselves.

The other two most visited sites are the Lakes Moses and Nora which are accessed through winding pathways which tourists would always want to explore whilst getting some leisurely exercise walk. Majekodunmi named the two lakes in remembrance of his parents.

A very interesting thing about Lake Nora is the walkway that leads to the Love Zone. There, several fun seekers have proposed to each other and even later had their engagements and weddings in the park. It is a very romantic spot that really deserves to be there.

Then there is the relaxation place with the famous African Spurred Tortoise, named Mama T who always takes things slow and easy.

According to the General Manager Evans Basil she has lived for more than a century. It is also home for Terena palm trees and the wild local palm trees and if you’re lucky, you can get some very fresh palm wine.

They also have the Mona monkey called Tina and the African civet cat, stripped black on a white background.

The facilities offer a platform of playing activities for the children, sporting arena and the education centre its distinctive vibes, all grounded in a lovely park with some of the freshest air in Lagos.

There are also many resident birds of Lufasi such as song birds, kites and vultures as well as squirrels, butterflies, rabbits, goats, horses, donkeys and several other little creatures.

On a regular basis, you could also come across some of the veterans in the entertainment industry such as Burna Boy, Charlie Boy, Davido, Flavour, Omawumi, Nse, Osuofia and RMD making their music videos and movies.

The COVID impacted has impacted on attendance a great deal and people were not really going out much until they realised that actually places like parks are the safest place one can be so long as one keeps the numbers at a lower level and one practises the distancing and sanitization protocols. Some people are coming but strictly controlled.

Urban parks such as Lufasi Park, the Nigerian Conservation Park and a few other parks near the city are the safest places to be with the COVID-19 infection because they are more secure.

Many people want to travel; they want to go places but they are feeling insecure because of COVID-19 and the general insecurity in the country. So, within the city, the park is a much better place to go and it’s also good for the economy.

International

Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland

Published

2 weeks ago

September 11, 2026

Hamdalat Bisiriyu

Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland

A holiday trip in Switzerland has ended in tragedy after a coach carrying 45 Dutch adults overturned in the eastern part of the country, killing five people and injuring the remaining passengers.

The crash occurred on Thursday afternoon on the road linking Susch and Zernez in the Graubünden region. Police said the vehicle went off the roadway while passing through an area where construction work was taking place before overturning.

Three of those injured are in serious condition, while another 37 people sustained less severe injuries. The driver, who is also Dutch, survived the crash but was among those taken for medical treatment.

Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland

News

166 nations to attend UN tourism conference in Lagos

Published

4 years ago

September 25, 2022

Trends Admin

Delegates from 166 member countries of the United Nations (UN) World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) are billed to participate in its 2022 conference scheduled to hold in Lagos between November 14 and 16.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known on Saturday in Lagos.

National tourism and culture organisations, international organisations, destination management organisations and stakeholders from the public and private sectors are expected at the conference.

Also expected to participate are civil society organisations working on tourism, cultural and creative industries and the media.

Mohammed told a news conference that delegates would include the UNWTO top executives, officials and experts led by the secretary-general, ministers and officials of tourism, culture and arts ministries of member states.

There would be two parallel experts’ workshops, a seminar on tourism and the creative industry and a conference on linking tourism, culture and the creative industry.

The minister noted that there would also be exhibitions on gastronomy, fashion, movie, music, visual arts and more, as well as a special programme on the creative industry tagged “A Day with Nollywood.’’

“According to the UNWTO, tourism is an activity in which the visitors’ essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible attractions and products in a destination.

“It has positive socio-economic impact, preserves cultural, historical heritage and facilitates harmony and understanding among people.

“The organisation described the creative industry, which includes advertising, architecture, arts and crafts, design, film, video, photography, music, performing arts, and publishing, as the lifeblood of the creative economy.

“It says it is also a growth driver for sustainable development,’’ the minister said. (NAN)

News

FG: We’re investigating airport officials helping travellers evade COVID-19 requirements

Published

5 years ago

September 28, 2021

Trends Admin

The federal government says it is investigating reports of corrupt airport officials who take bribes from travellers and help them evade COVID-19 quarantine requirements.

Speaking on Monday during the national briefing of the presidential steering committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), said the government has taken note of the challenges facing travellers with regards to COVID-19 requirements.

There have been recent reports of corrupt airport officials who help passengers travelling of the country evade COVID-19 test and also procure fake vaccine cards for the travellers.

In December, undercover investigation at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, had exposed how government officials forged COVID-19 test results in exchange for bribes.

“The PSC has taken note of the challenges raised by travelers that visit the National International Travel Portal in compliance with travel protocols,” Mustapha said.

“It has similarly noted with dismay, fraudulent activities perpetuated at our international airports by on-duty staff, who extort money out of those who equally wish to evade quarantine requirement. The authorities are conducting necessary investigation in to various reports received.

“Notable progress is still being made in the area of vaccine. Over 3.5m doses of Pfizer is being expected from the US Government this month while about 4m doses of Astrazeneca is being expected early next month. Nigeria will be receiving over 1m doses of J&J shipments on a monthly basis. The PSC is committed to access enough vaccines for the 70% eligible persons in the country in record time.”

Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the presidential steering committee on COVID-19, said there’s need for more caution among Nigerians despite the declining global COVID-19 cases.