Pilgrims in long wait for SCOAN prayer mountain resort

If you are a regular on the Ikotun-Iyan-Ejigbo-Cele route, you will hardly notice an enthralling as well as sprawling resort by the Cele-Egbe bridge.

Hidden under the shadow of the receding swamp, the resort is one-of-its-kind, and simply, a sheer beauty and sanctuary for rejuvenating the body, and especially the soul.

Truly, Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) Payer Mountain speaks volume on how a swamp can be transformed into a five-star resort and a hub for religious tourism in Nigeria.

Shortened to SCOAN Prayer Mountain for convenience’s sake, the resort, which sits in the old site of SCOAN, has so many things for it.

The humongous size tells the story better. It is set within a large expanse of land with natural ambience of trees and water, include; a kilometer of prayer and meditation walkway, a meditation garden that has rare and exotic species of peacocks and springboks, a helipad, and a speed boat to quickly convey pilgrims from one end of the resort to the other. Reclaimed from the swamp, the resort premises are built on elevated structure surrounded by water filled with catfish. It is an urban oasis that cuts off toxic air and noise pollution, and also less than 10 kilometers from Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA).

The above features make it one of the biggest resorts in the country as it could accommodate close to a thousand guests at a time and also the only resort of its size in Nigeria, which is located in the heart of a city.

Again, it has space for everyone. Though it is designed to accommodate pilgrims in search of divine intervention, it boasts of facilities to cater for all categories of visitors from low-budget to premium luxury guests and VIPs.

Yet, the prayer mountain resort was envisaged to complement current accommodation facilities within the church’s vicinity, further cementing the reputation of the Ikotun-axis in Lagos, as Africa’s leading religious tourist destination.

Sadly, the realisation of the resort project seems difficult.

A brainchild of T.B. Joshua, the late prophet and overseer of Synagogue Church of All Nations, the prayer mountain resort, was 80 percent completed before the demise of Prophet Joshua on June 5, 2021.

But the intrigue was that, considering the speed of work at the resort, many thought that the prophet would open the resort on June 12th to mark his 58th.

Regrettably, five years after the prophet’s demise, everything has gone quiet, with the project looking abandoned and little or no activity in the sanctuary the late prophet poured his heart, funds and prayers into and the pilgrim is highly anticipating its opening.

While alive prophet TB Joshua was of great spiritual help to people across the world who come with many challenges. With the huge influx of pilgrims to the synagogue, the hitherto neglected Ikotun-axis of Lagos boomed until 2021, when the prophet died.

Emmanuel Adigun, a hotel owner, decried that things have not been the same since the death of Prophet Joshua, while citing low patronage as the biggest challenge of hotels in Ikotun, built with pilgrims in mind.

“Those who borrowed money to build new hotels or expand the existing ones are in trouble today because the low patronage has persisted. But the synagogue is still thriving,” Adigun said.

According to him, if the current leadership of the synagogue can finish and open the prayer mountain resort, it will draw pilgrims and directly impact their business.

He is basing his argument on the fact that more visitors will visit the resort for prayers and also come to the synagogue later for worship and thanksgiving. “If that resort opens, the pilgrims will come back, at least, in sizable numbers.”

Bola Akinlabi, an Ikotun resident, lamented that residents are also feeling the absence of the prophet as their streets and the adjoining ones to the synagogue have been less busy since the demise of the prophet.

“We love the crowd and the noise because they bring business to Ikotun. There was also peace in the neighbourhood when the prophet was alive because if he speaks, everybody listens. I am not his member, but I love his great personality and generosity to people,” Akinlabi said.

Like hoteliers, tour operators that package religious tourism to the synagogue have looked elsewhere since the prophet’s death, until something happens or “God remembers them again”.

“Yes, the synagogue is still open and receiving visitors even from abroad, but the number has greatly declined,” Shalom Akanite, a tour operator, lamented. “The number now is like in the early days of the synagogue. Many prefer the prophet to other men of God in Nigeria, even in Africa. So, his death has created a big gap, which nobody can fill. Yes, the current leadership of the synagogue is trying very well, but not like the prophet himself,” Akanite said.

She insisted that business thrived for her while the prophet was alive, as people seeking spiritual healing and help from all over the world called for assistance with visas, flight bookings, hotel accommodation, airport pickup and even small tours around Lagos.

But she also insisted that it is not over for the synagogue, considering the strong support of the worshippers to the current leadership and especially the prayer mountain resort, which she noted would be a game changer in religious tourism in Nigeria.

“I have been at the prayer mountain resort over three times, and it should have been opened by now because the work is almost done,” she said.

“It is huge with more space than the synagogue, modern facilities and everything to support both spiritual and leisure stay.

“If they open it today, the residents around the Ile-Epo, Cele Egbe and even Iyana Ejigbo will feel the boom and activities around their vicinities”.

Femi Ogudu, another tour operator, decried that the quality of business his outfit got while the prophet was alive has been unmatched, as pilgrims will always connect back, appreciate good hosting and those who received answers to their spiritual requests do more.

“Things have really fallen apart for our business in the Ikotun-axis, but it can bounce back if the resort is opened. It will give people another opportunity to come, apart from seeking spiritual solace,” he said.

“The resort is very huge. You will see the large expanse from the major road, and it has many things to keep you wondering where you are. Let them open it because it should have been completed by now, considering the advanced level of work done by the prophet before his demise”.

But the big question remains: when will SCOAN Prayer Mountain Resort open?

For the opening, the synagogue seems not to have an answer, neither do members, as everybody is waiting on God’s direction in line with the late prophet’s way of seeking divine direction before embarking on anything, even the expansion of SCOAN outside its Ikotun headquarters.

However, pilgrims and tourists alike await the opening. The residents, vendors, hotels, car hire services, private security firms, and even local canteens are waiting for the opening of the prayer mountain resort, which they see as a key legacy of the late prophet and something that will make him happy, even in death.