The Lagos State Government has issued a directive to close the Lekki Conservation Centre temporarily for necessary repairs.
This decision follows a viral video on social media in which a visitor expressed concern about the deteriorating condition of the canopy walk bridge and other areas.
The closure was announced through an official statement posted on the Lagos State Government’s Facebook page on Tuesday night.
According to the statement, representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and the Lagos State Safety Commission conducted an inspection at the reserve in response to the viral video.
The statement also mentioned that the damaged section of the bridge has been repaired. Nonetheless, the reserve will be temporarily closed for “additional routine maintenance.”
It read, “The Lagos State Government has observed with displeasure a viral video by a concerned tourist on a broken segment of the long canopy walkway within the Lekki Conservation Centre.
“While inspecting the centre, officials of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, in conjunction with the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, discovered that the broken segment had already been repaired and restored to normal.
“However, the site would remain shut for further routine maintenance.
“The Director,-General of the Centre, Prof Mathew Onoja, appreciated the State Government for its intervention after the viral video, which first circulated in December.
“He said the centre will remain safety conscious and will abide by the directives of the State Government.
“The Ministry would like to assure the general public that the Lagos State Government is committed to the safety and well-being of citizens at all tourist locations within the state and would take further steps to see that all safety standards are met before the centre is reopened.”
Lekki Conservation Centre, situated in Lagos, is a nature reserve and ranks among the most frequented tourist destinations in Nigeria.