Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN BADAGRY LOCAL

GOVERNMENT AREA OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA (IMPACT AND
CHALLENGES)

BY
Anyafulu Aninoritse, Anyafulu Latifat & Okunlola Gabriel
Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Management Department, Yaba College of
Technology. Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Corresponding authors email: toylaz3000@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Tourism has become a major international industry with many countries all over the
world relying on the income it generates. For this reason, many countries recognise
tourism as a vehicle for economic development and as such sustainability has
become an essential requirement for tourism development. The need for sustainable
tourism development in Badagry local government area of Lagos state cannot be
overstressed because today, Badagry has an array of vast tourism resources that has
little or no significant impact on the lives of people nor has sufficient influence on the
local economy. This paper explores the possible impact as well as the challenges of
sustainable tourism development in Badagry. A total of 120 questionnaires were
distributed to respondents consisting of tourists and people in the community, using
simple percentage analysis, findings revealed that the possible impact of sustainable
tourism development are enormous, findings further revealed that inadequate
infrastructure, funding and promotion, insufficient local community and private sector
participation with insecurity and safety concerns are all challenges of sustainable
tourism development in Badagry. In view of the identified challenges, it is suggested
that adequate funding and provision of infrastructure by government is necessary to
aid sustainable tourism development in Badagry. Local community participation
should be greatly encouraged as it is a way to establish a sense of belonging which is
crucial to sustainable tourism development in any community.
Keywords: sustainability, tourism resources, sustainable tourism development

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

1 INTRODUCTION
Tourism is recognized as one of the worlds largest industries and a major
socio-economic activity of the world. United Nations World Tourism
Organization UNWTO (2011) acknowledges tourism as a key driver of
business and employment generation globally (Mc Minns, 1997). In 2010,
tourism was responsible for 940 million of total world`s arrivals and an
estimated $919 million USD of total receipts from worlds travels. It employs
one in every nine workers and contributes about 6% of global gross profits;
this has been a remarkable socio-economic expansion since the post world
war II era (Weaver, 2006). Sustainable development recognizes tourism as a
driving force for development, good sustainable development programmes
should include sustainable tourism strategies that help to sustain the
environment and protect it from depreciation by encouraging the use of
renewable energy and recycling, establishing carrying capacity guidelines
and enforcing it, protecting and conserving endangered species, flora and
fauna, reforestation programmes, enforcing laws against poaching and
logging in forest area and national parks, promoting local culture by selling
local products produced through local techniques, educating both tourists and
indigenous people on how to promote sustainable tourism habits especially in
protected areas, reinvesting profits back into local communities and ensuring
that there is local involvement in management and ownership of tourist
facilities. Sustainable tourism, its impact and challenges in Badagry Local
Government Area of Lagos State are the main focus of this paper.
2 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
Lascurain (1996) defined sustainable tourism as tourism that is developed
and managed in such a way that all tourism activity which in some way
focuses on heritage resources (natural or cultural) can be continued
indefinitely. Cooper et al (2005) gave the definition of sustainable tourism as
given by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) as meeting the needs of
present tourist and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity
for the future. Holloway (2006) defined sustainable tourism as attempting to
make as low an impact on the environment and local culture as possible,
while helping to generate future employment for local people, it was in line
with this that Holloway stated that the aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure
that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism
companies and tourists themselves. Kuhn (2007) argued that sustainable
tourism development is concerned with management practices designed to
exploit resources in such a manner that allows equitable development for
various groupings of people in the present while protecting the resource base
for use by the future generations. Sustainable tourism guidelines and
management practices are applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of
destinations including mass tourism and various niche tourism segments.

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires

constant monitoring of impacts and introducing the necessary preventive and
/ or corrective measures wherever necessary, this becomes imperative
considering the enormous benefits of sustainable tourism practices
2.2 HISTORY OF BADAGRY
Badagry, the ancient city which was founded precisely in 1425 A.D is a land
of mixed origins and the adopted homeland of countless immigrants, African
traders & missionaries (Apata, 2012). Badagry is located along the ancient
slave coast of West Africa with it citizens mainly engaging in farming, fishing
and salt making and by the 1600s, this ancient city became a thriving
community reputed for trade in salt and saltpetre, but this legitimate trade
soon gave way to the obnoxious slave trade and for its 400 years of
existence, slave trade dominated all other interests / businesses in Badagry
(Husitode, 2013). By the year 1740, Badagry had become a thriving town for
its sole industry. The slave trade, slaves were exported through the creeks,
lagoons and across the Atlantic. Liberation from slavery started from
Denmark in 1802, Britain in 1807 & France in 1818 through legislations but
regardless of the several European legislations the trade did not stop in
Badagry even after the signing of multiple treaties for abolition of human
trafficking and their commercializing. It was in July, 1863 that the treaty of
cession was signed ceding Badagry in to the hands of the British. Being the
first community in Nigeria to have contact with the Europeans, Badagry is
regarded as the cradle of western civilization in Nigeria. According to
Husitode (2013), Badagry forms an important part of the Nigerian history for
the following reasons:
1) The British flag, (Union Jack) was first hoisted on the soil of Badagry in
1843.
2) The architectural evolution of Nigeria started right in Badagry in 1845
when the first ever storey building was built by Rev. C. Golmer as a
Vicarage for early missionaries.
3) Western Education took its root in Badagry in 1843 with the establishment
of the first elementary school in Nigerian called Nursery of the Infant
church by the church missionary society (CMS).
4) The first agricultural school in Nigeria was established by the Roman
Catholic missionaries on Topo Island, Badagry in 1876.
5) 1893 saw the birth of the first ever teacher`s training college in Nigeria on
the same Island of Topo by the Roman Catholic missionaries
6) The first idea of international law in Nigeria was generated in Badagry
when Richard Lander, one of the earliest British explorers to Badagry was
tried in 1825; his trial was the first trial of an alien in Nigeria. He was
accused of treason, a crime punishable by death.
2.3 TOURISM RESOURCES IN BADAGRY
Apata (2012) stated that Badagry is the haven of tourism in Nigeria with
various historic sites and beautify scenery, varied in locations and enchanting
to visit, he highlighted the following tourism resources in Badagry:
SERIKI ABASS WILLIAM BRAZILIAN BARRACCOON

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

Barraccoon means a slave cell or prison. The Brazilian barracoon was

established in the 1840s by Seriki Abass William, a liberated slave who
returned along with others in 1839 and according to Anago (2012), the
barracoon consisted of 40 slaves cells and two of cells have been converted
to museum by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.
BADAGRY HERITAGE MUSEUM
This museum is situated at the Boekoh quarters along Lander road, GRA,
Marina Badagry. The building was built in 1863 and used as the district office
till 1958, it was eventually converted to a museum in August 2001and
according to Ajose (2008) the museum contains the most comprehensive
collection of Trans-Atlantic slave trade items in Nigeria. It consists of several
galleries namely: Introduction, capture, resistance and punishment, industry,
facilitators, equipment, abolitionist and the Badagry galleries.
VLEKETE SLAVE MARKET
This is one of the oldest markets in West Africa established in 1502 for the
purpose of sorting and selling of slaves. Also Richard Lander was tried in
1825 by a traditional jury at a shrine situated within the market from which
the market derived its name Vlekete. This is now an evening market as well
as a tourist center.
FIRST STOREY BUILDING
The first storey building in Nigeria is located at Boekoh Quarters, Marina. It
was built by Rev. C. Golmer. The estimated cost of the building in 1845 was
325 pounds. Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowder translated the English bible to
Yoruba in this house in 1846.
THE AGIA TREE MONUMENT
Located at Soglo way, Awhanijigoh Quarters, the legendary Agia tree lived for
about 350 years; it stood at the heart of the town beside the present Badagry
town hall. It was at this site that the gospel of Christianity was first preached
in Nigeria and it was also the venue of the first Christmas. The tree was fallen
by a rain storm on 20th June, 1959. A monument now stands in its place
(Ajose, 2008).
EARLY MISSIONARY CEMETERY
It is located along general hospital road opposite the Muslim grammar school.
The cemetery was founded in 1863 for the purpose of burying missionaries
that worked & died in Badagry.
CANNON GUNS
These are metal war instruments used by the slave traders to wage wars so
as to raid and capture people as slaves for sale and each Cannon gun was
exchanged for 100 slaves. The cannons were also used in the abolition of
slave trade. They can be found in front of Wawu compound in Badagry.
The above are just few of the many tourism resources in Badagry, others
include: The point of no return, Suntan Beach, Badagry Slave Well, Ganho
Slave Dungeon, Badagry Cultural Festival, Sato Festival etc.

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

3 METHODOLOGY
The analysis of this paper is based on primary data collection, a well
structured questionnaire was self administered to 120 respondents using the
random sampling technique from six tourist attractions in Badagry local
government area of Lagos State: Badagry Heritage Museum, Vlekete slave
market, first story building, the Agia tree monument, early missionary
cemetery and cannon guns. Twenty respondents were randomly selected
from each tourist site for the study. The data collected was analyzed using
SPSS 19.
4 RESULTS AND FINDINGS
The demographic and socio-economic characteristics of respondents was
presented in section A. Out of the 120 respondents selected, 100% of the
respondents filled their questionnaires completely. The results showed 32%
were female and 68% were male, about 37% of the respondents were
married while 50% were single 14% were widowed and divorced. 55% of the
respondents had HND/BSc and MSc qualifications, 15% had National
Diplomas. This implies that majority of the respondent are sufficiently
educated to provide knowledgeable responses to questions asked.

TABLE 1: Impact of sustainable tourism development in Badagry

Creation of Jobs

SA
(%)
58(48.
3)
58(48.
3)
32(26.
7)

Foreign Exchange Earnings

4(3.3)

Development of Infrastructure
Direct Financial Contribution to Conserve
Natural Environment

6(5.0)
26(21.
7)

VARIABLE/PARAMETR
Preservation of Natural Resources
Entertainment and Appreciation of Local
Tourism

A (%)
54
(45.0)
56(46.7
)
62(51.7
)
10(8.3)
18(15.0
)
60(50.0
)

D (%)

SD
(%)

U (%)

8(6.7)

0(0.0)

0(0.0)

4(3.3)
12(10.
0)
34(28.
3)
36(30.
0)
12(10.
0)

0(0.0)

2(1.7)

10(8.3)
58(48.
3)
54(45.
0)
12(10.
0)

4(3.3)
14(11.
7)

FIGURE 1: Impact of sustainable tourism development (cumulative %)

6(5.0)
10(8.3)

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

Table 1 shows the actual impact of sustainable tourism on Badagry Local Government
Area. The result showed that sustainable tourism impacts, on preservation of Natural
resources, entertainment and appreciation of local tourism and creation of jobs is
significant at between 72% - 95% while its contribution to on foreign exchange
earnings as well as development of infrastructure is very low at 12% and 20%
respectively.
Table 2: Challenges of sustainable tourism development in Badagry
Challenges
Inadequate Infrastructure
Security and Safety Concerns
Inadequate Promotion
Insufficient Local Community
Participation
Insufficient Private Sector
Participation
Inadequate Funding
Inaccessible Tourist Destinations

SA (%)
62(51.7
)
30(25.0
)
52(43.3
)
44(36.7
)
62(51.7
)
56(46.7
)
50(41.7
)

A (%)
48(40.0
)
50(41.7
)
56(46.7
)
52(43.3
)
48(40.0
)
54(45.0
)
34(28.3
)

D (%)

SD
(%)

U (%)

2(1.7)
24(20.0
)

2(1.7)

6(5.0)

10(8.3)

6(5.0)

4(3.3)

4(3.3)

4(3.3)

10(8.3)

6(5.0)

8(6.7)

4(3.3)

4(3.3)

2(1.7)

2(1.7)
20(16.7
)

4(3.3)

4(3.3)

10(8.3)

6(5.0)

Figure 2: Challenges of sustainable tourism development in Badagry (cumulative

%)

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

Table 2 measured the challenges of sustainable tourism development in Badagry

Local Government Area, the result showed inadequate infrastructure, insufficient
private sector participation and inadequate funding occupying the highest level of
significance at 92%, next came the issues of inadequate promotion, insufficient local
community participation, inaccessible tourist and security and safety concerns with
90%, 80%, 70% and 67% respectively.
Table 3: Existing preservation
Existing Preservation
strategies
By Controlling Number of
Visitors to each Tourist
Attraction (Carrying
Capacity)
By Enforcing all Standard
Regulations on Park
Maintenance
By Creating Awareness
Programs on Importance of
Maintaining Tourism
Resources (Through
Seminars, Public
Campaigns etc.)
Re-Investing Some of the
Profits Back into
Development Programs for
Tourism Attractions

strategies in Badagry
SA (%)

A (%)

D (%)

SD
(%)

U(%)

36(30.0)

52(43.
3)

10(8.3)

16(13.
3)

6(5.0)

38(31.7)

64(53.
3)

4(3.3)

10(8.3)

4(3.3

38(31.7)

50(41.
7)

14(11.
7)

16(13.
3)

2(1.7)

60(50.0)

38(31.
7)

6(5.0)

12(10.
0)

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

Figure 3: Existing preservation strategies in Badagry (cumulative %)

Table 3 measured the existing preservation method for tourism resources in Badagry,
result showed between 82% - 85% using enforcement of park regulations as well as
ploughing back profits generated from tourism activities into park development as
preservation methods while the other two methods carrying capacity and creating
awareness programmes scored 73%.
Table 4: Strategies for further sustenance in Badagry
Strategies for further sustenance
Setting of Carrying Capacity
Educating Tourist on Sustainable Tourism Habits
Re-Investing More of the Profits Back to the Local
Community
Encouraging Production and use of Local Products
Employing Local Residents in Tourist Destinations
Enforcing Working Regulations e.g. Paid Holidays,
Maximum Working Week and Livable Income Host
Community
Promoting Local Culture e.g. Dance, Dressing Food

SA
(%)
46(38.
3)
44(36.
7)
60(50.
0)
50(41.
7)
68(56.
7)

A (%)
68(56.
7)
74(61.
7)
48(40.
0)
54(45.
0)
50(41.
7)

D
(%)
2(1.7
)
0(0.0
)
4(3.3
)
6(5.0
)
2(1.7
)

42(35.
0)
68(56.
7)

64(53,
3)
44(36.
7)

4(3.3
)
2(1.7
)

SD
(%)

U (%)

0(0.0)

4(3.3)

2(1.7)

0(0.0)

6(5.0)

2(1.7)

8(6.7)

2(1.7)

0(0.0)

0(0.0)

8(6.7)

2(1.7)

2(1.7)

4(3.3)

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

Figure 4: Strategies for further sustenance in Badagry (cumulative %)

Table 4 measured the strategies for further preservation (sustenance) of tourism

resources in Badagry local government area. The result showed educating tourists as
well as employing local residents shows the highest with 98%. All other measures
were also very relevant with an average of 87 95% scores.
Table 5: Role (s) of Government in tourism sustenance
Role (s) of Government in tourism
sustenance
Encourage Active Participation of Local
Community
Ensure Tourism Manpower Development
Provision of Infrastructure
Active Participation of Private Investors
Creation of Tourism Awareness Programs
Implementation of the Tourism Policy
Enforcement of Carrying Capacity in Tourist
Sites
Adequate Funding

SA
(%)
72(60.
0)
54(45.
0)
72(60.
0)
80(66.
7)
66(55.
0)
80(66.
7)
66(55.
0)
80(66.
7)

A (%)
36(30.
0)
56(46.
7)
36(30.
0)
34(28.
3)
30(25.
0)
32(26.
7)
44(36.
7)
28(23.
3)

D (%)

SD
(%)

U (%)

4(3.3)

6(5.0)

2(1.7)

2(1.7)

4(3.3)

4(3.3)

2(1.7)

4(3.3)

6(5.0)

2(1.7)
18(15.
0)

0(0.0)

4(3.3)

2(1.7)

4(3.3)

4(3.3)

2(1.7)

2(1.7)

4(3.3)

4(3.3)

2(1.7)

6(5.0)

4(3.3)

2(1.7)

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

Figure 5: Role(s) of Government in tourism sustenance

Table 5 measured the role(s) of Government in ensuring sustainable tourism in

Badagry local Government Area. The result showed all the variables ranking very
high at 80 93%, with advice for active participation of private investors recording
the highest at 95%.

5 DISCUSSIONS
From the study it is obvious that tourism resources in Badagry Local
Government Area of Lagos State have been sustained for several centuries
through sustainable tourism management practices, this in turn impacts on
the environment in the areas of entertainment and appreciation of local
culture, direct financial contributions to conserve and preserve natural
resources and creation of jobs for the citizens of Badagry hence it can be
concluded that Badagry can continue to benefit from sustainable tourism
practices, it corroborates the assertion of Holloway (2006) who argued that
the aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development brings a
positive experience for local people, tourism companies and tourists
themselves. However the challenges of sustainable tourism in Badagry are
enormous with inadequate infrastructure, insufficient private investor
participation and inadequate funding ranking very high at 92%. Thus when
inadequate funding exists then infrastructure cannot be provided, this also

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

affects the implementation of other sustainable tourism strategies. This study

also shows that when guidelines for preserving tourists attractions are
upheld by managers of tourists destinations, then they will be preserved in
their natural form for future generations to explore thus confirming the claims
as made by Kuhn (2007) stating that sustainable tourism development is
concerned with management practices designed to exploit resources in such
a manner that allows equitable development for various groupings of people
in the present while protecting the resource base for use by the future
generations.
6 CONCLUSIONS
Sustainable tourism in Badagry Local Government should be a project that
the state government should be interested in because of the various tourism
products available, if they are harnessed together it will in no small way
contribute to the development of the community socially, economically and
thus stimulate infrastructural development. This can only be achieved if the
identified challenges are tackled with a strong political will.
7 RECOMMENDATIONS
Sustainable tourism in Badagry will have the expected impact if the following
recommendations can be looked into and implemented as identified in the
study.
1. Government of Lagos State should improve on the funding of the
industry, to give room for adequate provision of infrastructure.
2. Conducive business environment should be provided by the state for
private partnership participation in providing infrastructure and
essential facilities required by the tourist
3. Continuous and active participation of local community in planning of
tourist destinations as well as employment opportunities for both
skilled and unskilled labour.
4. Though there is relative peace and security within the Badagry Local
Government Area, efforts should be made to improve on the security
on the highway to the community.
5. The quality of infrastructure and staff to be provided should meet with
international standards.
6. Efforts at promoting the tourist products in Badagry should be
improved through various media such as creation of souvenir markets,
active use of the social media etc.
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Principles and Practices, (3rd Ed)., England: Pearson Education.

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

Holloway, J., 2006, The Business of Tourism, (7thEd.), Oxford: Butterworth

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THE BRAZILIAN BARRACOON

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

BADAGRY HERITAGE MUSEUM

THE FIRST STOREY BUILDING IN NIGERIA