Lagos State with a rapid­ly growing population is made up of five adminis­trative divisions, namely, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Epe, Badagry, and Lagos Island, with Ikeja being the state Capital.

The five divisions consist of a total of 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council De­velopment Areas (LCDAs).

Estimated population of over 22 million, Lagos State is lucky to parade huge tourist attrac­tions that are capable of attract­ing both local and international tourists. From Epe, Ajah, Lekki, Lagos Island, Ikeja, Mainland, and Badagry all the divisions have attractions that could make a visitor make a repeat visit.

In this direction, the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, restated his administration’s commitment toward making the State a tour­ism destination in the world in line with the Entertainment and Tourism pillar of the THEMES+ developmental agenda.

At a reception in honour of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who led a delegation of Nigerians in the Diaspora for a courtesy visit at Lagos House, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu, Sanwo-Olu, said the govern­ment will partner with relevant stakeholders, especially the peo­ple in the Diaspora to grow and strengthen the Door of Return festival and promote the cultural heritage of Badagry, Lagos and Nigeria at large.

The delegation visited Gover­nor Sanwo-Olu to appreciate him and the Lagos State Government for a successful celebration of this year’s edition of the Dias­pora Festival, dubbed, ‘Door of Return’ in Badagry.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, also commended the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commis­sion, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for the initiative of the Door of Return and her efforts in championing the interest of Nigerians in the Diaspora.

The NiDCOM boss urged the Lagos State government to sup­port the project by building a Permanent Door of Return in Badagry to attract more people in the Diaspora willing to trace their roots to Nigeria.

In his address, Julius Garvey and David Anderson lauded the Governor and members of his administration for their tremen­dous support for the festival and for showing keen interest in tour­ism.

Earlier, Dabiri-Erewa com­mended Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support towards the celebra­tion of Door of Return and the actualisation of the Diaspora Fes­tival that took place in Badagry last Saturday.

The delegation included Dr. Julius Marcus Garvey Jnr., son of foremost civil rights leader, Marcus Garvey, and the Jogbe of Badagry kingdom, David An­derson, among others.

Tourist Centres In Lagos

Lagos State in Nigeria is home to several notable tourist sites. In order to increase the viability of tourism, arts and culture in the state, the Ministry of Tourism in 2015 was renamed the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture.

Lekki Conservation Centre

The Lekki Conservation Cen­tre is located in the centre of Lekki. The tourist area, which covers a land area of 78 hectares, is located on the Lekki Peninsu­la, next to the Lekki Lagoon, and near the Lagos Lagoon.

The LCC’s 401-metre-long canopy walkway is the longest canopy walkway in Africa. It is a suspended swinging bridge walkway, featuring several types of vegetation and animals.

Freedom Park, Lagos

Freedom Park is a memori­al and leisure park area in the middle of downtown Lagos in Lagos Island, Nigeria; the park symbolizes the transformation of a colonial prison to a symbol of freedom.

Activities at the park include cultural shows and events, conti­nental and traditional meals, and live music.

Nike Art Gallery

Nike Art Gallery is an art gal­lery in Lekki, Lagos, the gallery is one of the largest collections of indigenous Nigerian artwork and is currently the largest private­ly-owned art gallery in Africa.

With over 700 km of Atlantic sandy beaches with about 20 be­tween the West of Badagry and East of Lekki, this places the state with an array of beaches for pleasure. Such beaches include Atlas Cove, Apapa, Bar Beach, Victoria Island, Elegushi Beach, Tarkwa Bay Beach, Topo Island, Badagry, Lakowe Beach and Re­sort, Jara Beach Resort, and Land Mark Beach, among others.

Topo Island is an island lo­cated in the Topo town area of Badagry Local Government of Lagos State, in South-west Nige­ria. The island was home to the missionaries who built a Chapel, Convent, Teacher training col­lege, cemetery and also a coconut plantation. The island was later abandoned in 1962.

Other Places To Visit

La Campagne Tropicana, Hova Beach Resort, Takwa Bay, Moist Beach Club, Kamp Ikare Beach, Laguna Beach, Inagbe Grand Resort, Epe Resort and Spa, Epe Mangroves, Tera Kulture, Bogo­biri House, Jazz Hele, National Arts Theatre, National Museum, Cathedral Church Building, Omu Resort, Rufus & Bee, Johnson, Jakande Tinubu Park, Ndibuisi Kanu Park, JK Randle Centre, Shodex Garden, Nigerian Rail­way Terminus.