By Wenona Russ
A friend of mine a few weeks ago mentioned the Obudu Cattle Ranch/Mountain Resort outside of Cross River. Nigeria is so rich in culture and natural beauty in its landscape. I remember on my first mission trip as I traveled by car to Izzi Village outside of Ebonyi State/Abakaliki, the scenery was SOOO beautiful!
The heat beating down on my brow and long trip didn’t bother me because as a missionary/tourist, I had never experienced the beauty that is exclusively Nigerian! The trees, the mountains and hills, the bodies of water, the greenery …. The greenery here is so different from the greenery in the United States! I remember thinking to myself, ‘I got to come BACK to Nigeria on a vacation!’
I didn’t quite get the local disdain for everything Nigerian that the people possessed. Or why every Nigerian I seemed to meet only had dreams of leaving this place! WHY would anyone ever want to leave an African paradise?
I have since gained the answers to those questions and so many more.
It turns out that the Obudu Cattle Ranch – at least as of a year ago – was abandoned, not well maintained, some cabins were lacking electricity and running water, and some of the very things that serve as a major attraction to the Ranch (such as the cable walk) was deemed unsafe, patchy and dangerous to walk upon.
I learned that the Ranch was privately owned when it was opened over 60 years ago but is now owned by the Nigerian Government.
Cross Creek Marina, Calabar
A few years ago, a tragic boat accident claimed the lives of 3 medical students at the Marina at Cross River Creek. The marina was shut down by the Cross River Government for at least 3 years to upgrade certain aspects of the marina as well as ensure security measures in place.
When another friend of mine was in the Calabar last year and drove past the Marina – that was at the end of August – the Marina had not reopened. I had heard so many nice things about it. Was disappointed that I didn’t get to go.
Cross Creek Marina, Calabar
More recently, the Landmark Resort Hotel received demolition orders by the Lagos Government to make room for a Coastal Highway that they are planning to build. I understand the necessity for more roads and highway infrastructure here in Nigeria, especially in and around Lagos where dense traffic is a continual issue.
However, demolishing a resort that is bringing in billions of dollars in revenue and employing thousands of Nigerians? In the CURRENT Nigerian economy?
How wise is this decision?
Landmark Resort Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Just from observing these three cases of governmental neglect, random decision-making, and slowness to respond to performing very necessary upgrades to existing tourist attractions to ensure the safety of Nigerians and tourists alike are some of the reasons why it would seem like both local and state governments do not seem to place much investment into the Nigerian Tourism Industry.
Again, as I have stated in previous articles, tourism is a potentially big moneymaker, even in the poorest of cities, states or countries. A sincere, serious, effective governmental action plan to promote tourism WILL result in billions of naira being pumped into the failing Nigerian economy.
My observation as a Diasporan is that those tourist attractions that are private and NOT controlled by the government are the tourist attractions that bring tourists to Nigeria.
Resorts like La Campagne Tropicana in Lagos that are privately owned as escaped governmental interruption and attracts ambassadors, tourists, diasporans, officials and the like for several years…without incident, without breach of security. And everyone who has gone there has given the resort great reviews and will return!
I am unsure why a government would make decisions that would negatively impact the economy of its country or city. I am still fairly new here.
I can only hope to encourage those in charge to take a second look at your tourist industry. There SHOULD be a Tourism office in Abuja. That office should be actively going to all tourist attractions and making sure that they ALL are safe and in compliance. Operational. NO tourist attraction should be abandoned or shut down for months or years!
There is NO reason why newlyweds have to book a honeymoon to Aruba, SA, the Seychelles or the Mauritius Islands when they LIVE in Nigeria! Building and keeping open more amusement parks, resorts, offering aid to hotels and those interested in entering the hotel industry (I have seen SEVERAL hotel buildings for sale in Nigeria) should be some protocols put in place to help BUILD the tourist industry.
In a country with such a HIGH unemployment rate, there is no excuse for tearing down a resort that employs 1000s of youth. Allocate a certain amount of your tourist budget to train lifeguards and at every pool and body of water, make life jackets available on all boats, ferries and ships.
I was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana in the U.S. It is notoriously known for its high poverty and crime rate. But New Orleans is also one of the BIGGEST tourist attractions in the United States! Yes, security is an issue there. And the police department has been known to be a bit corrupt in past decades.
But none of those issues prevent tourists from flocking in New Orleans EVERY YEAR for the coveted Mardi Gras festival in February/March of every year.
For this past Mardi Gras season alone this year, Mardi Gras 2024 (which lasts approximately 3-4 weeks total of several different parades that roll the streets of N.O. and surrounding areas) generated over $891,000,000 into the New Orleans economy! That is $891 MILLION USD – that’s over 900 BILLION naira!
And that is not even for the entire year!
Other year-long N.O. tourist attractions such as The French Quarters, Canal Street, Jackson Square, the Ferry, the Casino and several eateries, shops and restaurants that serve some of the finest cuisine in the country (which some of those dishes remind me of Nigerian dishes! Just Google GUMBO and think of your Okro Soup!)
These tourist attractions draw tourist to New Orleans and the surrounding areas ALL YEAR LONG! So New Orleans’ tourist industry is the NUMBER ONE industry and employer in the city! This is money paid into the economy by private entities that own the hotels, the restaurants, that sponsor the parades during Mardi Gras, that hosts balls and parties.
The great thing about N.O. is that the rich and the not so rich are all attracted to New Orleans. There are vacation packages, hotels, eateries and entertainment venues that fit ANY and ALL budgets!
I went to visit the Transcorp Hilton a month or so ago and I have to admit: it is NICE in there! It is very classy, clean. But it seems to cater ONLY to what Nigerians perceive to be ‘the rich and prestigious.’
Now I am NOT rich! As a matter of fact, I am semi retired, In the Hilton, I saw a big effort for the workers in there to cater to me, perhaps because I am American. I am not sure.
At first I was impressed and honored to be treated with such courtesy.
But now as I think on it, it appears to me that the local tourist industry only seems to cater to whom they perceive to be the elite. Those who they think got money! And THIS is a HUGE mistake!
New Orleans has gotten this tourist industry and marketing thing right because they offer attractions to fit ALL budgets. If you are rich and can afford to spend $1000 per nite at the Marriott N.O., then the rich go there.
But if you are on a budget and need something in the $50-100 per nite range, you can find that available as well. Now honestly, I cannot guarantee safety there, but if you use common sense and don’t travel alone, you should be fine.
The Nigerian tourist industry fails to cater to middle class tourists that may not be ‘balling’ (rich) and that is a mistake. Because the majority of the money made in the tourist industry comes out of the bank accounts, the wallets and the purses of the MIDDLE CLASS.
The Middle class are the ones that take vacations more often (or at least want to). They are the ones looking for a weekend getaway or a place to take the kids. That retired couple may want to explore African landscapes…those college students may need to come to a local museum to gain some perspective on ancient art.
I used to always wonder ‘Why am I seeing so many empty hotels here in Abuja?’
I understand why now.
Lastly, I reached to Centennery City a year ago to inquire about going on a tour. I didn’t know what it was just saw the website and I was intrigued. I got one very vague email response that gave me no further instructions on how to go about arranging a tour.
Poor customer service seems to be the norm in Abuja, and poor customer service will make tourists NOT return to the city after they have had a bad experience. Not answering business phones or responding to inquiries, changing the prices of things once you hear an American or European accent, and outright lying are all big no-no’s.
Making tourists and/or Diasporan stay in Nigeria a pleasant (and safe) one is GOOD for business. Being rude, dismissive, non responsive, or deceptive leaves a bad taste in foreigner’s mouths and they will NOT opt to visit or shop once they have had a bad experience.
PLUS they will not hesitate to publicize their bad experiences leaving a bad mark on your business. This is just an observation and suggestion to ALL not to any one particular business or entity.
I don’t know if Customer Support training is needed. But by and large, the customer service needs to improve if you are wanting to build your tourist industry into one that attracts BILLIONS of dollars and potentially millions of jobs to Nigeria.
I also highly suggest that more of these attractions become privately owned and maintained, at least until the government is ‘under transition’
Because tourism under governmental authority is DYING here in Nigeria. And Nigeria has MANY attractions, natural beauty, and some of the most creative, talented and intelligent people on the planet!
