There is little, if any, disagreement about Lagos being the busiest commercial city in Nigeria, probably in West Africa too.
The ever crowded roads that are always busy with people coming and going about their daily hustles, is a testament to the saying that Lagos is a land of hustlers. In spite of this, there are still some getaway spots in Lagos state where people visit for relaxation and sightseeing.
There is also the proposed Koko Beach Hotels & Resorts, sited between Ibeshe and Ikaare, which is expected to further boost tourism potential.
The resort is being created as an exclusive getaway island, a hybrid of African culture and world-class standard. A team of government officials and businessmen recently visited to inspect the ongoing construction of Koko Beach Hotels & Resorts.
Among the team were CEO Flytime Promotions, Cecil Hammond; CEO & Chairman Arbico Construction, Adebisi Adebutu; President Dangote Industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele; Founder & Promoter, Koko Beach Hotels & Resorts, Richie Shittu, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chairman, Geregu Power Plc, Mr Femi Otedola, and President Nigerian Football Association, Mr Amaju Pinnick. The pick of men who took this tour is, in itself, an indication of the sectors and industries that have interests in seeing the completion of the project.
The Koko Beach Hotel & Resorts is expected to have choice infrastructure and technology, without losing touch with nature, which is characteristic of any tourist location. There is an array of coconut trees spread across the site, presenting a serene environment which adds to the site’s lush landscape.
From the master plan, the resort will have a sports centre, cinema, 12 horse stables, bars, clinic and pharmacy, fuel station, restaurant, beach club pool, and games arcade, making it into a world out of the world.
It will also feature a water park, event centre, spa and gym for recreation, a water sports centre, 4 bedroom villas, 3 bedroom villas, honeymoon suites, and hotel suites for families looking to have a peaceful getaway and commune with nature. To keep the resort eco-friendly, there will also be a waste treatment plant and water treatment plant.
There will be constant power (national grid and backup) and high-level security, and the resort will have direct access from all locations. It will have a helipad, making it accessible by air without having to go through the airport and the traffic all the way from there to the resort. Being close to the lagoon also makes it accessible by water and of course, there are land routes connecting to it as well.
The beautiful landscape architecture in the Koko Beach & Resort looks very compatible with the Lagos Mega City vision, and also provides that serene environment that people would want to run to, after all the bustle.
The master plan gives holiday lovers a lot to look forward to upon its completion, but there is even a lot more to be unfolded. When completed, the Koko Beach & Resorts will be creating between 1000-2000 direct jobs, and a lot more indirect jobs.
With over 25,000 tourist visits projected annually, the resort will boost the contribution of tourism to the nation’s GDP and also create opportunities for small and medium scale businesses. This is what some experts summarise as “more income for businesses, more revenue for the government.”
The eco-friendly environment and natural habitat preservation will be a breath of fresh air for a city like Lagos where residents constantly have to contend with fumes from automobiles. Moreover, the resort will be maximally exploring the lagoon and ocean potentials, as it is positioned to combine the calm of the lagoon with the energy of the Atlantic.
With proper management, it would become a landmark tourist destination in Nigeria and improve Nigeria’s hospitality rating on the global scale. There are endless possibilities of the international partnerships and foreign investments that the Koko Beach & Resorts project will also attract to Nigeria, and this is just one reason behind the interest from diverse sectors.
