With barely some months away from to the celebration of Nigeria Centenary and as Lokoja, the administrative capital in the amalgamation of Northern Protectorate and Southern Protectorate to form Nigeria in 1914, one wonders what is and has happens to Lokoja in 100 years after?
It behooves a visitor to Lokoja, to ask, is this the same city that Lord Fredrick Lugard presides over Nigeria as the Governor-General? It definitely left a sour taste in most visitors and first time visitors to Lokoja, describe as a Confluence city, with famous historical sites and captivating hill, one would have thought Lokoja would have become a tourists destination, attracting visitor and tourists across the planet.
Mount Patti, Lord Fredrick Lugard's residence, office and tomb remains a historical sites and monuments, yet untapped by both the state government and investors. Lokoja metropolis remains lifeless at 10:00pm. Making phone calls in Lokoja remains a mirage, as Internet Cafes remain scattered and exhortation. A recent drive around Lokoja portray the city as " A City Asleep After 10:00pm!" as Nigeria first administrative capital, one thing you cannot take away from Lokoja is the various drinking joints scattered across the city center, note of worthy is Crowther Memorial road, the road hosts; NUJ State Secretariat, Old Lord Fredrick Lugard [opposite Lokoja Township Stadium], National Commissions for Museum and Monuments.
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A boat cruise across the vast River Niger confluence opens one to the vista the confluence offers, but the irony still remains;m tourism and tourists destinations centers are undeveloped and untapped. With pockets of housing estates that dots parts of the city. Lokoja still remains a nightmare for people looking for new accommodation or relocating to the city. In a brief chat with one property and estate developer, Mallam Mohammed Abdullahi, with office along Crowther Memorial Road, Lokoja remains the most expensive city in Nigeria after Abuja, asked to give reason for this ugly phenomenon, Mallam Mohammed Abdullahi ascribe it to "many people chasing few available houses", the expensive nature of the city again to some is due to Dangote Cement Factory at Obajana, some few kilometers from Lokoja.
Most people that do business and works at Obajana Cement Factory resides in Lokoja and commutes from Lokoja to Obajana daily. With few eateries, the city can boast of few three star hotels, but basically this does not translate into the city been lively at night at 100 years, Lokoja city centers remains a ghost at 10:00pm. Most of Lokoja activities is centered around Lokoja International Market, at Nataco Junction and Ganaja area of the confluence city. Grace FM, Prime FM, Confluence FM, NTA, CTL, and Cable TV's, Graphic Newspaper serves the confluence city residence with information and entertainment, while Kogi State Polytechnic and Federal University of Lokoja caters for the educational needs of city.
Indeed, Lokoja is a city asleep after 100 years!
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