For the inhabitants of Tarkwa Bay Island, Lagos, the year 2009 will remain indelible in their hearts. In just three months, the island has changed in status, and for good.

Indeed, even in their wildest imagination, the residents of the island may not have thought that life would be sweet. They never imagined that the once despised beach would become a beautiful bride overnight and its attractions irresistible to the prying public.

As early as January, the Lagos State government, working through the Ministry of Tourism and Inter-governmental Relations, hatched a plan to make Tarkwa Bay beach a top tourism centre. This is one way of promoting sustainable domestic tourism in the state.

Speaking on the choice of Tarkwa Bay, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, said the carnival was packaged to sensitize the public on the need to explore the beaches for leisure activities. He spoke of government’s resolve to make domestic tourism sustainable through beach carnivals.

According to him, the state is endowed with unique sandy beaches, a long coastline dotted with tall coconut trees and spectacular ambience waiting to be discovered by the people in Lagos. Tarkwa Bay, he said, was chosen against this backdrop.

It is towards this goal that the recent Easter carnival was staged on Tarkwa Bay Island. Many known and upcoming Nigerian artistes performed at the carnival.
Transport facilities were provided at various points, including the CMS jetty, in Marina, Tarzan jetty, at Maroko; Ambico yard jetty and the Mekwuen jetty. All boats and vessels used met approved international safety guidelines.

These boats include four newly acquired ones fully equipped and luxuriously furnished. They are owned by Fiki Marine and Boat Club. Sea patrol and rescue boats were also deployed as back-up, while every passenger had a life jacket. Policemen and security operatives provided adequate security for the day.

Mobile toilets were ferried to the beach and equipment for the stage were moved in by Z-Mirage, ahead of the real day. Food vendors, palmwine sellers, fish mongers, soft drink hawkers and their ilk besieged the island with their wares.

Despite the early morning drizzle, which delayed the programme till about noon, the star appearances of some of Nigeria’s most celebrated entertainment stars electrified the venue and sent the crowd dancing till the evening. Those who came were Kenny St. Brown, Muma Gee, Lord of Ajasa, King Nil (Togo), Zaki, Idris Abdul Karim, and Tee Mac.
Others were Sheyman & Dr. Pat, Essence, Jazzman Olofin 2Phat, Lt Shotgun, Danny Young Lanre Atorise and others.

Comedians led by MC Basket Mouth were there to add flavour to the concept.
Side attractions, like masquerades, boat regatta, cultural shows and comedians spiced up the event and created an atmosphere of conviviality.

It was actually an opportunity for music and artistic talent-hunting, as there were competitions in various areas, with encouraging cash and product prizes.

The banks’ connection.
Banks were not left out. Sterling Bank and Eco Bank mounted their stands and offered prospective clients a range of products to choose from. On offer were gift items and branded items. Clients were given the chance to open accounts, with as low as N1,000, as a way of making the facility available at the grassroots.

As a coconut island, guests had a field day while the carnival lasted. The islanders had stands where freshly plucked coconuts were cut open and the liquid content offered to visitors to enjoy.
Apart from eating and drinking, people indulged in other things. There was open water swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, diving, jet skiing, boating, surfing, wake boarding, fishing, beach soccer, yacht sailing, and quad biking etc.

The boat regatta featured about 12 well-decorated canoes and a handful of swimmers. At intervals, these young acrobats jumped into the sea and performed various nerve-racking gymnastics.
At the end, the carnival turned out to be an effective way to reposition Tarkwa Bay as a tourism destination of choice.

Speaking at the venue, Senator Afikuyomi declared: “As you are aware, the Tarkwa Bay island has been in the news in recent times, but not for noble reasons. For decades now, Tarkwa Bay has been a tourist haven to scores of foreign and domestic tourists who every weekend and during holidays visit the island to spend some leisure time in the embrace of nature.

Unknown to many Lagosians, Tarkwa Bay has been a destination where a number of activities often celebrated by the foreign media in other parts of the world take place. It has been a socially inclusive tourism island and a meeting point for members of different social classes. We need to celebrate this unique island.”

Nice !!




www.sunnewsonline.com

Good thing the state govt is showcasing it's tourism potential

It is towards this goal that the recent Easter carnival was staged on Tarkwa Bay Island. Many known and upcoming Nigerian artistes performed at the carnival.
Transport facilities were provided at various points, including the CMS jetty, in Marina, Tarzan jetty, at Maroko; Ambico yard jetty and the Mekwuen jetty. All boats and vessels used met approved international safety guidelines.

These boats include four newly acquired ones fully equipped and luxuriously furnished. They are owned by Fiki Marine and Boat Club. Sea patrol and rescue boats were also deployed as back-up, while every passenger had a life jacket. Policemen and security operatives provided adequate security for the day.

Mobile toilets were ferried to the beach and equipment for the stage were moved in by Z-Mirage, ahead of the real day. Food vendors, palmwine sellers, fish mongers, soft drink hawkers and their ilk besieged the island with their wares.

hmm its seems all these were provided just because of a festival and only to the beach front not minding the people that actually reside there need these facilities there permanently

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W30Y8fQJWeQ