NAN-AE-14
Walkway
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, Feb. 20, 2017 (NAN) Mr Ede Dafinone, the Chairman, National Executive Council, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), says the 401-metre covered walkway has made Lekki Conservation Centre a foremost tourist attraction in Lagos.
Dafinone, who said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday, said that the walkway had been attracting visitors and tourists to the centre.
According to him, the covered walkway is one of the major achievements of the current NCF council which was inaugurated in 2015.
“It is the vision of the present NCF executive council to make the centre self-sustaining, as the centre is hitherto been highly-subsidised by the foundation.
“In line with this vision, we have built the longest walkway with canopy in Africa at the centre, which has become the delight of visitors and tourists alike.
“We are also putting finishing touches to the Family Park at the centre.
“We envisage a situation where the centre will be able to, at least, pay all the costs that are required to maintain it.
“And we are doing this with support from the Lagos State Government.
“With the canopy, the animals can run freely, while all the ecosystem and biodiversity can exist in their natural state without any disturbance from visitors,’’ he said.
Besides, Dafinone said that the council had also created greater awareness of the need to conserve the environment on a national level.
He said that the NCF now had better collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, adding that it had been working closely with the ministry, particularly on issues concerning the Cross River Super Highway.
He said that the foundation was also collaborating with the ministry in efforts to increase the nation’s forest cover, which at the moment was below 5 per cent, to about 25 per cent.
NAN reports that the Lekki Conservation Centre covers 78 hectares, while the walkway traverses about 30 hectares.
Tourists and visitors, while on the walkway, can enjoy nature in its raw state, while the Family Park has fish ponds, jungle gym and outdoor games, among other attractions. (NAN)
ACA/FLP/OOK
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Edited by Folorunso Poroye and Dayo Komolafe