By Peter Dansu Fresh concerns have been raised over the long abandonment of the historic Point of No Return monument in Gberefu, Badagry Lo...
By Peter Dansu
Fresh concerns have been raised over the long abandonment of the historic Point of No Return monument in Gberefu, Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, as a concerned citizen has written an open letter calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu to urgently intervene and revive the tourism asset.
In the open letter addressed to the governor, Abiodun Semasa Emmanuel, President of Hungon Igborosun Youth, described the current state of the monument as a painful symbol of neglect and missed economic opportunities, noting that tourism remains one of the strongest drivers of revenue generation, job creation, and cultural preservation worldwide.
According to the letter, the Point of No Return, once envisioned as a major tourism hub, has been left in a deplorable condition for years despite its immense historical and economic value. The writer argued that if properly revitalized and managed, the monument could attract local and international tourists, stimulate investment, and create sustainable employment opportunities for youths and residents of Badagry.
The letter stressed that tourism development goes beyond leisure, explaining that a functional tourism facility would boost surrounding businesses including hotels, transport services, artisans, food vendors, and other small enterprises. It would also increase internally generated revenue, reduce unemployment, and strengthen the preservation of Badagry’s rich cultural heritage.
The appeal further linked the proposed revitalization to the Lagos State government’s broader agenda on economic diversification, urban renewal, community development, and security improvement. It urged the governor to consider options such as public private partnerships, concessioning, or direct government intervention to restore the monument to full functionality.
Raising concerns about accountability, the writer claimed to have come across visual records suggesting that the project had previously been inspected by the governor and that funds may have been allocated for its revitalization. He called on the state government to clarify the status of any funds approved for the project and to identify contractors or individuals previously responsible for its execution if such funds were indeed released.
“If funds were approved and the project still remains abandoned, the people deserve to know what went wrong,” the letter noted, adding that transparency and responsibility are essential to restoring public trust.
However, if no funds had been allocated in the past, the writer appealed to the governor to include the revitalization of the Point of No Return monument in the new budget, lamenting what he described as repeated cases of abandoned projects and wasted opportunities that continue to hinder development.
The letter concluded with an expression of confidence in Governor Sanwo Olu’s leadership and capacity to transform the abandoned monument into a symbol of renewal, pride, and prosperity for Lagos State and the Badagry community.
The Point of No Return in Gberefu is one of Badagry’s most iconic historical landmarks, closely tied to the transatlantic slave trade and Nigeria’s cultural memory, making its continued neglect a source of growing concern among residents and stakeholders in the tourism sector.
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