WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT NIGERIA IN 2018

                                      

Nigeria is known as the most populous nation in the continent of Africa. The country is extremely rich with diverse and colourful cultures, which serve as its richest touristic values for cultural holiday seekers.

Your traveling to Nigeria should not be on a mixed feelings or the preconception on what you’ve heard on media about the country, as Nigeria is relatively calm and peaceful; and have beautiful places to tour around.

Here are some of the reasons you should make Nigeria one of your destinations to visit in the year 2018:

1.      The perceived peace and stability in the country. Before now, travel and tourism performance in Nigeria had declined. This declination was noticeable in the early 2014 to 2017, when the country suffers a lot of negative perception. The terror attacks that went on during those years; the Niger Delta and IPOB agitators, the Boko Haram influences in the north and other negative stories as well as epidermis diseases of Ebola Virus, Lassa fever, Monkey pox, etc, that dominated global media about Nigeria, have seized to be since the government of President Mohammadu Buhari came into power in 2015. The government of Buhari has restored peace and tranquility in the northeast region of the country; he has also succeeded in calming the Biafra agitators in the southeast of the country while the Niger Delta militants in the South-south has also been nailed.

In the wake of this, Nigeria is also safe as the streets of Paris and London if you would take precautions not to get into the streets of the ‘ghettos’,  popularly call the ‘Area Boys’.

2.      The abundant natural attractions. Nigeria is equally blessed with hundreds of miles of coastline, landscapes, beaches and lakes, which are ideal for beach escapes and water sports. Enugu State, for example, is the most peaceful and calm state in the country, is heavily blessed with natural resources in the form of caves, waterfalls, springs, etc. which make the country one of the cheapest place for holidaying in the continent of Africa.

Lagos, one of its major cities is a beehive of activities, serves as a good destination for business travelers as well as holiday seekers.

Aside natural features, Nigeria is also richly endowed with man-made attractions like the Eko-Atlantic City, eye-catchy bridges and tunnels, magnificent cathedrals, beautiful and clean hotels, art galleries, theme parks, shopping malls, monumental buildings and archaeological collections, ideally for both local and foreign tourists consumption.

3.      Cultural Carnivals & Festivals. Nigeria is the largest national population in Africa, and has a population of over 250 ethnic groups. These ethnic groups have diverse beliefs, dances, festivals and drama which characterizes them, and which they show case to the world based on their events calendar day.

Among the carnivals is the Calabar Carnival holding every December with the display of diverse colourful cultural costumes and dances along the streets of Calabar. Also, there is the popular Abuja carnival holding every November in the streets of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and it draws both international and local visitors from all over the world. Other carnivals of great reputes are the Argungun Fishing Carnival, the Durban Carnival; all which take place in the northeast region of the country.

4.      The people’s Lifestyle. The Nigeria people are generally hospitable and accommodating. They greet a lot and they consider it very rude not greeting properly before discussing whatever business of the day. The people also detest criminal activities and don’t hesitate to hand any culprit to the police. The people are fun-loving people and always amuse themselves at the sight of foreigners especially the white, who they call ‘Oyibo’.

Nigeria has wonderful and variety of diets, usually eaten by the right hand. Every region in the country has its own special food, and some are prepared for special occasion. In the Southeast of the country, the people are known for their special meals known as Ofe nsala,Ofe Olubu, and Ofe Ede while the Nsukka people of Enugu State are known for their varieties of meals such as Okpa, Ayara Oka, and Achicha to name but few. So also, in the Southwest, the region is gifted with the special food called Amala and Ewedu, Gbedigiri and Iyan, etc, while the northern region is extremely good in the preparation of Tuwo Shikafi and Tuwo Masara. These are diets tourists would find interesting and delicious.

Aside the local meals, the urban cities are inflated with Western foods such as canned and packaged foods found in the Supermarkets and Shopping Malls. Majority of the restaurants serve white rice with stew, Jollof rice with fried plantain, etc.

The Nigeria people are over all fun-loving people. They are hard workers who are dedicated to their work.

5.      The Annual Film Festival.  The Zuma film festival is Nigeria’s foremost film festival being hold annually in the city of Abuja. It is an event that promotes the cultural products of the Nigeria films so as to announce the country’s tourism potentials as a film destination hub. The film festival seeks to enhance the enormous business opportunities within the country’s motion picture sector, arts and culture. This festival attracts participants from over 50 countries of Africa, Asia, and Europe.

OLUMO ROCK: THE HISTORICAL & TOURISTIC ESSENCE OF ABEOKUTA

During one of my long vacation, which normally begins in the month of September, I thought of travelling for leisure to Olumo Rock, at least to experience the amazing edifice nature has bequeathed the people of Abeokuta, of which I have for long heard about right from my School days! I decided to set on the journey with my friend and office colleague, Onyinyechi. We had already made bookings with a travel company in Enugu a week before the departing day.

On Friday morning being the departing day, we left in a Sienna Salon car driven by one the company’s chauffeurs. The tour guide sat beside the driver while Onyinyechi and I took the passengers’ seat behind. We were given travel tips before departure and we took all the necessary kits and clothing for the adventure. It was a delightful journey and the tour guide was quite knowledgeable with the history of places we drove passed.  

The driving distance from Enugu to Abeokuta is about 544km. But before 12pm we were already at Ore in Ondo State, a journey we began at 8.05am. The tour guide asked the driver to drive into a restaurant where we alighted for a lunch of jollof rice and fried plantain. Although I did not take jollof rice, but opted for a snack and a coca-cola drink. I only prefer a snack and a bottle of soft drink whenever I’m in a long journey. After about 30mins of rest in the restaurant, we set for the remaining part of the journey.

We arrived Abeokuta at exactly 5.25pm.The driver was meticulous on steering, driving as a professional tour driver should be. We passed the night in one of the hotels there, a very decent one however; and proceeded to the rock for our adventure the next morning. We drove along the Cement Refinery Plant, and then we entered a village at the outskirt of Abeokuta called Ijebu-Igbo.

On arriving the town where the Olumo Rock is situated, we parked our car just closed to the attraction site where a local guide was already waiting to usher us into the “paradise” of Abeokuta. We walked through the gate and waved to the guard men who responded by saying “ekabo”, literal meaning you’re welcome. Our guide led us through the stairs to the summit of the rock, where he engaged us on a brief history of the rock.

The Olumo Rock is said to have a rich history and an amazing cultural and touristic significance to the people of Abeokuta. According to the local guide, the massive edifice of nature which was named “OLUMO” which by translation means “GOD MOLDED”, was used as a refuge haven by the indigenes of Egba during the 19^th century warring times. He said the rock perfectly hid the people such that the enemy warriors could never locate them. They also used the summit of the rock to spy the location of the enemies so as to strategically direct their deadly missiles at the camp of the enemies. During those tribal-war times, the Egba people lived within the confines of the rock, mainly in tiny caves at the base of the rock, and there they carried out their normal domestic lives without fears of molestation or whatsoever from the enemies.

Olumo Rock has a height of 137km above the sea level. We eventually saw a section of the rock dripping with water which, according to our local guide, was highly medicinal.  At the summit of the rock, we were able to see the entire stunning view of Abeokuta city. We saw the Ogun River, the first TV station in Nigeria, the Church of Nigeria which was the first Church in the Country.

We walked down to the base of the rock and I was perplexed to see a shrine where, as the guide illustrated, sacrifices were done in honour of the deities of the rock by the priest. This shrine opens once every 5^th of August for festivals.

Also, at the base of the rock we walked into the Museum of History where visitors and tourists visit to learn more about the history and significance of the rock to the people of Abeokuta. Inside the museum where stored the city’s culturally artefacts.

We had a wonderful sight experience at the rock for about an hour and thirty minutes. Then our local tour guide announced that it was time to pay a courtesy visit to Alake and the paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo in his palace, Ake, Abeokuta.

The paramount ruler happens to be ardent lover of leisure and had taken the Lisabi festival to international event being sponsored by both MTN and Globalcom. He has also seen to the establishment of many hotels and travel agencies to boost tourism in the area.

Today, the Olumo rock has undergone series of innovative feats as there is elevation to carry visitors to the top if they desired not to use the stairs. But this is not free as visitors would be expected to pay for such luxury service. The new feature of Olumo rock now seen as a tourist complex with new restaurants, shopping centres and a market. All this is credited to the effort of the ruler to make Egbaland economical viable.

THE SILICON HILL: AN ENVIABLE TOURIST POTENTIAL OF NKALOGU

Nigeria is blessed with so many tourism potentials. Each State in the country has interesting tourism sites to offer to visitors who are bound to enjoy not only the hospitality of the people but also the physical beauty of the land. For instance, Enugu State is a tourist delights because of its rich natural endowments. The State popularly called the Coal City State is home to several historical and cultural attractions that have put its name on the world tourist map. The State also has a large number of attractive landscapes. One of which is the SILICON HILL.

 In Nkalogu Ozuala Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State lies one of the nature’s wonders calls the Silicon hill. You may be puzzled why the hill is known by that name. It’s simply because the hill is made up of a large deposit of the mineral calls Silicon.

The Silicon hill was discovered by some people on excavation work and research. But prior to the period of this discovery, the people living around the hill were first digging and using the sand for building houses and other masonry works. When the team of researchers got to the site, they took a closer look of the sand and notice that the sand was somehow shiny and different from the normal sand they knew. They decided to take some samples to the laboratory to test, where they finally came up with the result that the sand at Nkalogu is not ordinary sand but Silicon which can be used for glass making. Even at the National Institute of Scientific Research and Development in Enugu, there you will see how some of the sand from the hill was used to make the glasses and other glassy equipment used for laboratory work.

The Silicon hill is one of the highest hills in Enugu State. It offers an attractive stand point for people who want to have a panoramic view of Enugu Metropolis especially at dawn and dusk. The surrounding environment of the hill is also very appealing. The hill is a nice place to visit. The environment is very greenish. It has two hills; each standing opposite the other with a footpath in-between leading to the community. Standing at the summit of the hill, one can see beyond Nsukka and Uzo-Uwani Areas.

The Silicon hill has a variety of topographic features that differentiate it from other landscapes. The miniature rocks found at the base of the hills are beautiful to behold. Also the springs ousting out from those miniature rocks are sparkling. It is a beautiful and attractive place nature gifted to the people of Nkalogu.

There is no shortage of things to do and see at Silicon hill. The rocky topography of the hill makes it a good site for mountaineering and other sports. The hill also offers visitors the chance to enjoy cool and refreshing breeze. The Serenity that connate the atmosphere around the Silicon hill provides visitors with the opportunity to enjoy nature in its true form. For this reason it has become a popular destination among the residents of Enugu State as well as foreign tourists. Although the Silicon hill does not have any cultural and spiritual significance to the people, the hill is highly revered by the people of Nkalogu.  There are certain restrictions to the use of the hills. For instance, the local community does not allow people to dig sand and rock from the hill for commercial or any other purposes. It is believed this is why the hill has remained in its natural form.

The rich tourism potentials of the hills cannot be overemphasized. If the potentials of the hills are properly harness there will be lots of gains ranging from the use of the sand for the production of glasses, breakables and all that to making the site a renowned, an enviable tourists resort.

Credit: Landmarks on VON.