Tourism
Ten best tourist destinations in Nigeria
1. Lekki Conservation Center, Nigeria is a green oasis of calms and peace away from the busy city life of Lagos. The centre was established in 1990 to promote and preserve the local biodiversity and to serve as an educational center. It was built by Chevron who still funds the center. The foundation wants to preserve Nigeria’s rich plant and animal species and ecosystems by raising environmental awareness and promoting responsibility. The 78 hectare center is located in the Lekki Peninsula where we can find wetlands with swamp and savannah. Visitors can walk on the longest canopy in Africa and enjoy the park through several hiking trails and tree platforms helping you to observe the wildlife. The park is ideal to have a picnic with a panoramic view of the reserve.
2. Idanre Hill (Oke Idanre) is located in Idanre Town in Ondo, in the south-west of Nigeria. The landscape of Indanre Hill is well-known among Nigerians and besides the fantastic views the area has a wide variety of cultural and archeological sites. It has been added to the UNESCO world heritage site list and has since then gained in popularity. The hill is 914 meters above sea level and houses a unique ecosystem in which we can find the remains of the ancient city. A visit to the hill is a full day of discovery filled with breathtaking views, cultural and archeological exploration and a great exercise as it’s quite the hike!
3. Coconut Beach: This idyllic beach is located in Badagry, about 30 km from the border with Benin, and is surrounded by .. you guess .. coconut trees. There are several beach resorts where you can stay for a few days to relax in this beautiful tropical setting. The place is popular among Lagos and Abuja residents and expats who come to spend the weekend here.
4. The Gurara Falls are among the most famous tourist sites in Nigeria and are popular among Nigerians and expats who are looking for a nice day out. They were discovered in 1745 by a local hunter. The falls were named after two gods which were worshipped by the Gwari: Gura and Rara who went to pray near the waterfalls. The falls span 300 meter across and have a 50 meter drop. They are about an hour drive away from Abuja and are best visited between April and November when there is a lot of water. It is safe to swim in the river during the dry season.
5. The Ikogosi Warm Springs are located at Ikogosi town in Ekiti State, in the south-west of Nigeria. Besides the warm spring there is also another cold spring and the two eventually meet each other, providing the perfect temperature of 37 degrees for anyone who wants to bathe.
6. The ancient Kano City Walls are a defensive system which was built by the king of the Kingdom of Kano around the city of Kano to protect its inhabitants. It was constructed between the 11th and 12th century and was finally completed in the 14th century. It is one of the most important and interesting historical sites to visit in West-Africa. Inside we find the Kurmi Market and the Emir’s Palace, there are 15 gates through which you can enter.
7. Gashaka-Gumti National Park was created in 1991 out of two game reserves and is the largest national park in Nigeria. It is located near the border with Cameroon and covers over 6.400 sq km. The south of the park is very mountainous, rich in valleys, gorges and montane forests. In the north we can find mostly savanna. There are 103 species of mammals which have been identified such as golden cat, buffalo, duikers, wild dog, roan antelope, and chimpanzees. The park has over 1 million birds and we can find over 500 species. It is favoured by birders all over Africa. With its spectacular landscapes the park is definitely worth a visit.
8. Zuma Rock
Zuma Rock is a large natural monolith in the Niger state just outside Abuja. It rises over 300 meters above the flat surrounding landscape and we can find its picture on the 100 nairo bill. The rock has a very peculiar form and is massive in size. It is a popular stop to view this amazing natural wonder and to take photographs.
9. Farin Ruwa Falls
The Farin Ruwa Falls are among the highest waterfalls in Nigeria and are located in the central region of the country. The name comes from Hausa and means ‘white water’. From the distance the fall produces a white-smoke like effect on the mountains. The water drops over 150 meter during its descent from the Jos Plateau. Visits are mostly done from Lafia. The falls are most impressive when visited during the rainy season.
10. Lagos Nightlife
Nigerian music is booming like no other and is currently dominating the African continent. Stars such as Davido, Mr. Eazi, Wizkid and Burna Boy have been gaining popularity in the west and have been working together with western artists. Lagos is the musical center of Africa where we can find the best nightlife in all of Africa with exclusive clubs pounding the newest afro beats and attracting the hippest crowd of the continent. When you’re in Lagos you definitely need to visit the local pubs and clubs.
Meyer Werft’s All-Electric Cruise Ship Sets New Course for Maritime Decarbonisation
German shipbuilder targets 95% emissions cut with battery-powered vessel; no engine room, no emissions — and a deadline of 2031
By Ighoyota Onaibre | Waterways News Correspondent
German shipbuilding giant Meyer Werft has unveiled plans to construct what would be the world’s first fully battery-powered cruise ship, a project that maritime observers say could redefine the economics and engineering of green cruising and send a powerful signal to shipping nations still wrestling with decarbonisation commitments.
The project, developed under what the company calls Project Vision, is designed to slash greenhouse gas emissions by up to 95% compared to conventional cruise vessels — a target that places the concept well ahead of the IMO’s revised GHG Strategy, which mandates a net-zero trajectory for international shipping by 2050.
A Ship Without an Engine Room
At the heart of the design is a radical departure from conventional cruise ship architecture. Rather than an engine room, the vessel would house a large-scale battery facility drawing on technology already proven in electric ferry operations across northern Europe. The battery system has been developed by Corvus Energy, a firm whose solutions currently power zero-emission passenger ferries in Norway and beyond.
Project engineer Johannes Bade explained the rationale in straightforward terms: “Batteries are now in a state — with the energy density and other aspects, safety, life cycle and so on — where we say, now this is the most energy-efficient way to do cruises.”
The ship would recharge at port between voyages, functioning, in essence, as the world’s largest floating electric vehicle. Meyer Werft says the technology is ready and that the vessel could be delivered by 2031, provided a commercial contract is secured before the end of 2026.
Infrastructure: The Critical Bottleneck
The ambition, however, runs ahead of the infrastructure. Of the roughly 1,500 ports that cruise ships call at globally each year, only 41 currently have the shore-power capacity to recharge a large battery-powered vessel. Meyer Werft acknowledges the gap but points to momentum building in Europe, estimating that approximately 100 European ports could be shore-power ready by 2030.
Industry voices have also weighed in on what the breakthrough represents for the broader net-zero puzzle. Charles “Bud” Darr of Cruise Lines International Association noted that achieving net-zero by 2050 would require a diverse portfolio of solutions: “It is going to take a mosaic or bundle of solutions to get to net zero for 2050. So every innovation is something that we add to that mosaic.”
Darr identified routes in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Norwegian fjords, the Baltic Sea, and the Florida-Bahamas corridor as best suited for fully electric operations, given the shorter distances between port calls.
Nigeria Watch
What Meyer Werft’s all-electric cruise ship means for Nigeria’s blue economy
The announcement from Meyer Werft may appear distant from Nigerian maritime realities, but policymakers, port operators, and blue economy advocates would be wrong to dismiss it as a purely European affair.
Nigeria sits at a critical juncture. The country’s ports — primarily Apapa and Tincan in Lagos, with deep seaport projects at Olokola, Badagry, Ibom, Bakassi, and Bonny at varying stages of development — are being designed and concessioned in the same decade that global ship technology is pivoting fundamentally away from fossil fuel propulsion. The shore-power infrastructure gap identified in the Meyer Werft project is precisely the kind of planning detail that can determine whether a port remains competitive in the next generation of maritime trade or finds itself stranded with yesterday’s specifications.
Nigeria’s National Ports Authority (NPA) and NIMASA must begin factoring electric vessel readiness into port masterplanning now, not when the first battery-powered liner appears at the horizon. The broader cruise economy — underdeveloped in Nigeria compared to the potential offered by the country’s Atlantic coastline, the Niger Delta waterways, and proximity to Gulf of Guinea island nations like São Tomé — also deserves serious attention. A future in which West Africa becomes a cruise destination of any scale will require the port infrastructure to support it.
There is also a domestic angle. Nigeria’s inland waterway operators and short-sea shipping sector, chronically burdened by fuel costs and ageing diesel-powered fleets, have every reason to track the rapid maturation of large-scale maritime battery technology. What works for a 300-passenger cruise ship in European waters today may well define the economics of a Warri-to-Lagos waterway shuttle or a Lagos Harbour ferry concession within this decade.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) should be monitoring these developments closely.
The IMO’s decarbonisation clock is ticking for all flag states and port nations — Nigeria included. The question is not whether electric propulsion will transform global shipping, but whether Nigeria will be positioned to benefit when it does.
Waterways News Maritime Technology Desk
Business
FTAN Mobilises Private Sector Behind ‘Destination Akwa Ibom’ Push, Eyes Maritime and Coastal Assets
FTAN Mobilises Private Sector Behind ‘Destination Akwa Ibom’ Push, Eyes Maritime and Coastal Assets
Newly inaugurated state executive council to coordinate investment drive as tourism stakeholders align with Governor Eno’s ARISE Agenda
By Idongesit Akaniyene
Tourism industry stakeholders under the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) have formally launched a coordinated drive to position Akwa Ibom State as a premier tourism destination, with the private sector placed at the centre of an initiative that organisers say could help wean the state off its dependence on crude oil revenues.
The push, unveiled at Gladmann Hotel, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, drew participants from across FTAN’s affiliate associations and culminated in the inauguration of a 10-member State Executive Council (SEC) tasked with implementing what stakeholders are calling the “Destination Akwa Ibom” agenda.
The newly constituted council is led by Mr. Joseph Umoh as Coordinator, with Sunday Otoyo as Deputy Coordinator, Emediong Ebong as Secretary, Obonganwan Mariaterese Adiakpan as Treasurer, and Possibility Akpan as Public Relations Officer. Other members include Anthony Bassey (Welfare/Protocol), Unwong Ette (Programmes Coordinator), Edima Imara (Financial Secretary) and Idorenyin Essien.
The SEC is expected to serve as the operational engine for the initiative — coordinating stakeholders, engaging development partners, and driving investment inflows into the state’s hospitality and leisure sector.
Maritime and Coastal Assets Front and Centre
Of particular interest to Waterways News readers is the explicit recognition by FTAN stakeholders of Akwa Ibom’s maritime and coastal heritage as core tourism assets. Participants at the forum cited the Blue River in Ukanafun, the Mary Slessor historical site, and slave post locations in Ibiono Ibom and Ikot Abasi among the strategic assets capable of attracting both domestic and international visitors.
These sites sit alongside newer infrastructure investments. Among the state’s current development pipeline is the Oron Maritime Infrastructure Hub — a project that forms part of Akwa Ibom’s broader tourism and economic diversification drive. Oron, a riverine community with deep historical links to trans-Atlantic trade and colonial-era maritime commerce, represents perhaps the clearest intersection between the state’s blue economy credentials and its tourism ambitions.
Stakeholders also commended the state government’s investments in the ARISE Park, the Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort and Ibom Air as critical foundations for a sustainable tourism economy.
Alignment with ARISE Agenda
The initiative is framed as consistent with the economic diversification agenda of Governor Umo Eno and his ARISE Agenda blueprint, particularly in the areas of job creation, internally generated revenue, and human capital development. That alignment carries fiscal weight. The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has proposed N16 billion for tourism sector reforms in the 2026 budget, with N13 billion earmarked for capital expenditure. The commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Anieti Udofia, told the 2026 Budget Committee that the funds would focus on the development of major tourism hubs across the state, including Ikot Abasi, Itu, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo local government area.
Ikot Abasi and Eastern Obolo — both waterfront communities — underscore the state government’s awareness that much of Akwa Ibom’s most compelling tourism geography is coastal and riverine.
South-South Context
The FTAN Akwa Ibom initiative sits within a broader regional push. The South-South zone — comprising Edo, Delta, Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa — is now being positioned to fully leverage its tourism potential, with FTAN’s regional executive council tasked with developing sustainable infrastructure to drive growth across the zone.
The zone’s known tourism assets include Cross River’s rainforests, Delta’s cultural festivals, and the beaches of Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom — a region described as an untapped treasure trove of opportunities.
For a maritime publication, the subtext is hard to miss: a significant proportion of that untapped value lies on or near the water.
Nigeria Watch
Akwa Ibom’s tourism offensive arrives at a moment when the blue economy framework is gaining traction across Nigerian policy circles, yet coastal and riverine tourism remains largely underfunded and under-promoted. The state’s combination of natural waterfront assets, improving aviation connectivity through Ibom Air, and now an organised private-sector advocacy structure through FTAN gives it a stronger implementation platform than most comparable coastal states.
The real test will be whether the N13 billion capital budget for tourism infrastructure translates into bankable, visitor-ready waterfront product — and whether maritime heritage sites like Oron and Ikot Abasi receive the kind of interpretive and hospitality infrastructure that converts historical significance into overnight stays and repeat visits.
Waterways News | Water Tourism Desk
Blue Economy
LAGFERRY Turns Lagos Waterways Into a Cinema, Screens Michael Jackson Biopic Aboard Adimu Orisha Barge
LAGFERRY Turns Lagos Waterways Into a Cinema, Screens Michael Jackson Biopic Aboard Adimu Orisha Barge
Agency partners Wave Media for ‘Cinema and Cruise’ event, signalling new frontier for waterway-based leisure and tourism in Lagos
By Okeoghene Onoriobe | Waterways News Correspondent
The Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY) has taken a bold step in repositioning the Lagos waterways as a destination for entertainment and tourism, hosting an exclusive movie screening event aboard its celebrated Adimu Orisha Barge on the creeks and coastal waters of Lagos State.
The event, tagged Cinema and Cruise and organised in collaboration with Wave Media, centred on the screening of Michael — the newly released biographical film chronicling the life, artistry, and legacy of the late American pop icon, Michael Jackson. The gathering drew a cross-section of Lagosians including movie enthusiasts, entertainment professionals, waterway passengers, and stakeholders from across the leisure and hospitality sectors.
Waterways as More Than a Corridor
Held against the backdrop of a glittering Lagos nightscape, the Cinema and Cruise event was designed to challenge and broaden the public’s perception of water transportation — positioning the Lagos waterways not merely as a commuter corridor, but as a viable venue for social, cultural, and recreational experiences.
Speaking at the event, LAGFERRY Managing Director, Hon. Ladi Balogun, said the screening aboard the Adimu Orisha Barge encapsulates the agency’s broader vision of making water transport an attractive and multidimensional proposition for Lagos residents and visitors alike.
“The movie viewing experience aboard the Adimu Orisha Barge reflects our agency’s vision of redefining commuting and leisure through safe, enjoyable, and customer-focused water transportation services,” Balogun stated. “There is absolutely no social event you can do on land that you cannot do on the waterways.”
The Managing Director also reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to safety on the waterways, alongside ongoing efforts to expand and modernise the state’s water transportation infrastructure through innovation and sustainability.
There is absolutely no social event you can do on land that you cannot do on the waterways.”
Guests were treated to an evening of music, open-air networking, and sweeping panoramic views of the Lagos waterfront — a setting that reinforced the waterways’ growing status as an entertainment destination in its own right.
A Milestone in Waterway Diversification
The successful execution of the Cinema and Cruise event marks a notable milestone in LAGFERRY’s evolving strategy to diversify the use cases of Lagos waterways beyond mass transit. By introducing leisure and cultural programming aboard its vessels, the agency is quietly building the case for the waterways as a pillar of Lagos’s broader blue economy and urban tourism offering.
Nigeria Watch
What LAGFERRY’s ‘Cinema and Cruise’ Signals for the Blue Economy
For stakeholders in Nigeria’s blue economy — from terminal operators and ferry concessionaires to hospitality investors and urban planners — the LAGFERRY Cinema and Cruise event is more than a novelty. It is a policy signal worth tracking.
Lagos State has for years grappled with the challenge of driving modal shift from road to water transport. Infrastructure investment alone — new jetties, expanded ferry routes, modern vessels — has not been sufficient to overcome the cultural inertia that keeps commuters on congested roads. What is needed alongside hard infrastructure is a shift in perception: Lagosians must begin to see the waterways as desirable, not merely functional.
LAGFERRY’s foray into water-based entertainment is a calculated attempt to catalyse that shift. By anchoring a branded leisure experience to a waterway vessel, the agency is effectively marketing the waterway itself — not just the ferry ticket.
The commercial logic is sound: increased footfall on the waterways, driven by lifestyle events, directly supports the viability of regular ferry services and the concession ecosystem around them.
For investors in Lagos’s waterfront economy — hospitality developers, event companies, and water transport operators — the Cinema and Cruise model suggests an emerging market segment. River cruise dining, floating concerts, corporate hospitality events on barges, and waterway-based film or cultural festivals are all established revenue streams in waterfront cities globally. Lagos, with its extensive lagoon system and a young, experience-driven consumer base, is well-positioned to develop similar offerings.
The key enablers will be regulatory clarity from the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) on commercial event licensing for vessels, continued investment in jetty infrastructure at event-friendly locations, and safety oversight frameworks that can accommodate non-standard waterway activities. If LAGFERRY’s partnership model with Wave Media can be replicated and scaled, Cinema and Cruise may prove to be the proof of concept that unlocks private investment in Lagos waterway-based tourism — a segment the blue economy urgently needs.
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