Lagos Moves to Transform Tarkwa Bay into World-Class Tourist Destination

 

-------As NATOP Join Forces to Position Tarkwa Bay as ‘Cancun of Africa’

By Kayode Olopade 

Lagos State Government, in partnership with the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) and other stakeholders, has reaffirmed its readiness to transform Tarkwa Bay Beach into a world-class tourism destination.

The commitment was reiterated on Saturday during a stakeholders’ tour of Tarkwa Bay Beach, Victoria Island, to commemorate the 2025 World Tourism Day themed “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.”

The event, spearheaded by the State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, underscored Lagos’ vision to reposition its beaches as economic and cultural assets capable of competing with international destinations.

Speaking at the event, Benson-Awoyinka emphasized that Lagos possesses untapped tourism potential.

 “We want to take away from Lagos this time beach tourism. Our assets are hidden treasures—our gems. We want the world to know that there is a Cancun here, there is a Maldives here, and our people don’t need to travel abroad to have that same experience,” she said.

The Commissioner revealed that Lagos boasts 183 kilometers of beachfronts along the Atlantic Ocean and vast waterway corridors from the Lagos and Badagry creeks, which she described as underutilized.

NATOP President, Hajia Bolaji Mustapha, urged synergy between government and the private sector to maximize Nigeria’s competitive edge in global tourism.

 “Nigeria has even greater potential than many international tourist sites. With our culture, our landscape and our people, we can make this nation a place the world will want to visit again and again,” she noted.

She cited examples from other African countries while stressing the need to train Tarkwa Bay locals in hospitality skills, including food preparation, to align with international standards.

Also speaking, Alhaji Gbenga Sunmonu, a tourism stakeholder, explained that Tarkwa Bay was chosen for this year’s celebration to showcase cultural preservation while experimenting with innovative techniques to benefit the community.

A representative of the Tarkwa Bay community, speaking on behalf of Oba Musilihu Adio Yusuf, added:

 “Tourism is married to culture and culture to tourism. We must market our culture to the international community.”

With security infrastructure already in place through the presence of the Navy, Air Force, and Army, stakeholders believe Tarkwa Bay holds strong potential to become a safe, vibrant, and globally competitive resort and,