Fun seekers from far and near on Wednesday thronged the Suntan Beach in Badagry, Lagos State, and other recreational centres in the town to celebrate the New Year Day
The shores of Suntan Beach were filled with revellers having fun in tents built by the management of the beach.
The fun seekers said they were at the beach to unwind with their families, friends and loved ones.
Mr Willy Emmanuel, a staff of Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) who came with his family, said he was at the beach to enjoy the holiday.
“I feel happy that after a whole year, one should find time to relax with his family. I believe this is the time to spend time with the children before they go back to school next week.
“I have been looking forward to this period as it will help me to spend quality time with my family and that’s why we are here today.
“We have been going to Whispering Palms at Iworo Ajido to celebrate all these years, but I just decided to come here to have a change of scene,” he said.
Mrs Patience Nwosu, a teacher, who came to the beach with her five children, said “coming to the beach is a perfect place for me to relax, chill and have fun”.
Nwosu urged the management of the beach to provide more tents so that fun seekers would have places to rest when it was sunny.
Tents filled with fun seekers at Suntan Beach in Badagry.
“As you can see, the few tents built by the management of the beach have been occupied, forcing us to lay mats on the sand at the shoreline.
“Also, the management should block loopholes so that most of the income generated will not be diverted to private pockets.
“We paid N200 per car and at the same time, they collected N500 per person.
“If you consider the amount of money the management will make with this multitude of people, that will amount to millions of naira,” she said.
A bottle water seller, Miss Seweka Avoseh said business had been good.
“So far, I have made a lot of money through patronage and I’m sure I will still make more money because more people will still come.
“This year has been different with the large crowd of people that came to visit the beach.
“I have gone back to my shop several times to bring water and soft drinks; they have bought them, I’m still going back now,” she said.
Mr Abdulahi Musa, a suya seller, also said he had recorded impressive sales.
The officials of the Badagry Local Council Development Area (LCDA) were busy selling tickets to fun seekers who besieged the entry gate.
Similarly, tourists from different parts of the country came to various historical sites in the ancient city.
Mrs Bimpe Arinola, a resident of Lagos Island, who visited the 175-year-old first storey building in Nigeria with her kids, said the building was a place of interest.
The first storey building in Nigeria was built in Badagry in 1845 by Revd. Henry Townsend of the Church Missionary Society.
Mr Yemi Oginni, from Lusaga in Ogun state who visited the Seriki Abass Slave Trade Relics Museum, also in Badagry, said he had memories he was going to cherish for forever.
Tourists also visited the Chief Mobee’s Slave Relics Museum and other areas in Badagry to catch fun.
