The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the reconstruction of the Point of No Return monument in Gberefu, Badagry Local Government, to boost tourism in the state.
As gathered, Sanwo-Olu approved the repairs after months of protests by residents and tourism stakeholders over the site’s poor condition.
The governor’s approval was disclosed yesterday by the Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Solomon Saanu Bonu.
Bonu explained that the project had been stalled for years before the intervention of the current administration.
According to Bonu, government officials have already carried out a formal handover of the site to a contractor, who is expected to mobilize to the location soon. The handover ceremony was attended by the Commissioner for Tourism, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, and the Permanent Secretary for Tourism.
He praised the governor for prioritizing tourism development and cultural preservation in Badagry, describing the move as a crucial step toward bringing the abandoned monument back to life.
The Point of No Return, located on Gberefu Island, remains one of Nigeria’s most symbolic historical landmarks.
The location, which has become a tourism location, served as the final departure point for thousands of enslaved Africans taken across the Atlantic between the 16th and 19th centuries, marking a tragic and irreversible chapter in human history.
While reconstruction has not yet begun, the re-award of the contract is widely seen as a foundation for the eventual restoration of the monument and a boost to heritage tourism in Badagry.