Taraba boosts investment in tourism with public-private agro-ecotourism project

…Approves 2500 hectares of land for resort

In a bid to grow its tourism to a viable sector, the Taraba State government has embarked on a multi-billion-naira ambitious agro- ecotourism project.

The state, under the leadership of Governor Agbu Kefas, is using the project to inject funds into its economy, accelerate development, create massive job opportunities for youth, and help to quell security challenges.

The tourism project, the La Campagne Tropicana Agro-Ecotourism Resorts, is described as an unprecedented public-partnership project. To this end, the state government has approved 2500 hectares of land, and the locations for the agro-ecotourism resort are scattered on 12 sites across the State. They include: the La Campagne Tropicana Agro-Ecotourism Heritage Resort Zangon Kombi just few kilometres for the Danbaba Suntai Airport, Jalingo, the La Campagne Tropicana Nwonyo Lake Resort, Ibi, the La Campagne Tropicana Rest Area, Zangon Kombi, the La Campagne Rest Area Mahula Bali, the La Campagne Tropicana Rest Area, Gayam, Gashaka, the La Campagne Tropicana Agro-Ecotourism Heritage Resort Mayo Selb, Gashaka, the La Campagne Tropicana Rest Area Biyudasisi, Mambilla, the La Campagne Tropicana Agro-Tourism Heritage Resort Abong Kurmi council area, the La Campagne Tropicana Eco-Tourism Resort Nagadasda, the La Campagne Tropicana Rest Area Gurgu Mambilla, the La Campagne Tropicana Kwararafa Rest Area Gasol.

The project being executed in partnership with the La Campagne Tropicana Resort Group, builders of the world’s first African themed resort brand, when completed, will transform the state into one of the leading tourist destinations in Nigeria in terms of tourist traffic.

The ecotourism resorts, which encompass leisure, ecotourism, and agriculture, was embarked on as a legacy project by the state to become a point of reference in years to come.

So far, the La Campagne Agro-Ecotourism Resorts project is gradually, but steadily taking shape. Some of the eco-friendly accommodations are already being built. Leisure facilities such as quad bikes, fishing boats and jet skis have been added to the facilities at the resorts.

While speaking on the project during a tour of one of the sites, Governor Agbu Kefas expressed his satisfaction with the pace of development. “By the grace of God, Taraba will become a centre for peace and unity, food, security and everything that is good. I assure that we will give all the necessary support so that we can turn this state into a tourist destination,” he said.

On his part, Wanle Akinboboye, founder, La Campagne Tropicana Group, who is leading the private sector in the project, said he is excited about the project. “You know our young people today are afraid of going into the farm because the representation of farming is that of poverty, suffering and pain, so, no kid wants to partake in that. What we have created here is heritage, ecotourism, hospitality, using tourism to sell entertainment and agriculture, and using agriculture to sell tourism,” he said.

“It is the first time we will see a state government partnering with a private sector, giving 2500 hectares of land strictly for the return of people of African descent, lovers of Africa throughout the world to come and connect with the continent. When that happens, which is happening now, it will change the entire dynamics of Africans coming back to buy holiday homes around the resort that would generate money for them on a daily basis for people in their 80s, 90s to have a retirement home adjacent a resort, especially an eco-resort that will elongate their lifespan, where they wake up in the morning the houses are taken care of. They are not in a nursing home, where they go around in the resort, play games, do entertainment and interact with people instead of sitting in a desolate house with only a nurse. We believe that this will transform tourism totally.

“What Governor Agbu Kefas has done by first of all pointing out that he is not just interested in general tourism, but interest in heritage and ecotourism, and he has a ministry of heritage and ecotourism, no interest in other forms of tourism because ecotourism for him, is the advantage he has, and he is taking advantage of that advantage-the third largest landmass in Nigeria, over 54,000 square kilometers, with the best of the best of hills. So, he decided that I want to only be known for ecotourism and based on that, he agreed with me to create this land. You know what will happen when 10000 people descend on that land from America, Europe and from all over the world? What will happen to the entire north? Already, no tourism practitioner or writer is picking up the fact that water sports like jet skis, quad bikes and so on have been introduced in the whole of the north. So, no one is pointing that out”.

The beauty of the La Campagne Tropicana Agro-Ecotourism Resort projects in Taraba state, according to him, is that from any of the resorts, tourists have the opportunity to explore some of the enchanting ecotourism sites within the state.

For him, Governor Agbu is positioning Taraba State as the next big thing in Nigerian tourism. “It is something he is doing quietly under the radar. It is important to watch out for this mega agro-ecotourism project as it unfolds,” he concluded.