Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Enugu State Government says it plans to revamp about eighty-five abandoned tourist sites across the state for optimal use and revenue generation.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ugochi Madueke, disclosed this during an interview with newsmen in Enugu.
She said that the ministry would complete the development of ten of the tourist sites before the end of the year.
According to her, Governor Peter Mbah’s vision was to make the state culture and tourism destination of the world.
“The ministry is working to develop, sustain and showcase the tourism potentials of the state to the world for revenue, employment, leisure through smart and result-oriented policies.”
Madueke said that the ministry would partner the vigilance groups in the host communities, in addition to other security measures to secure the sites.
“We will use the local vigilance groups, in addition to security agencies in the state,” she said.
She listed the tourist sites to include Awhum Water Fall, Ezimo Water Fall, Ezeagu Hot-and-Cold Stream, the cave, called Ebe Chukwu Bili in Oha, Ezeagu, Obiara Ohu Water Fall in Awgu, Osum Water Fall in Awgu Nta and Akpawfu Lake in Enugu East, among others.
“We have also discovered an age-long Pyramid at Nsude in Udi Local Government Area and we are putting necessary infrastructure, access roads and social amenities to give a facelift to the sites.
“The ministry will put amenities, such as toilets, food court and street lights in place at the sites.
“Awhum needs a resort because of the monastery there to make it a religious tourism site, where people will visit like Pilgrimage,” she said.
Madueke further disclosed that the ministry was working to amend the law establishing it to boost its revenue.
“The ministry does not generate revenue before now but with the administration of Mbah, which said that 20 per cent of the 30 billion dollars target of the state would come from tourism, we are trying to develop our tourist sites for influx of people.
“We tend to generate that 20 per cent from the tourist sites as our revenue currently comes from our cultural troupe,” the commissioner said.
She said that the major challenge confronting the ministry was paucity of funds and urged the people to support Mbah’s efforts to develop the state.
