Sultan Beach: A breathtaking relaxation centre for churches, lovers

Sultan Beach is located in the heart of Badagry, a suburb area of Lagos. Despite the availability of beaches such as Lekki Beach, Bar Beach, Tarkwa Bay, Elegushi Beach located in high-brow area in Victoria Island; Sultan Beach has been able to attract quite a number of visitors in the recent times. CHIBUZOR EBERE who was at the beach recently reports that the freshness of the beach makes it attractive to tourists who come from different parts of the country.

Visitors to Sultan Beach will, no doubt notice the difference between the beach and other beaches in Lagos State. First is the environment as the beach is located in the coastal town of Badagry, west of Lagos. It looks clean, homely and is attractively set in an area surrounded by coconut trees, giving an impression of a coastal area.

Lying about 20 miles towards the border of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, Sultan Beach is accessible through the Lagos-Badagry expressway and it is now fast becoming the second home of newly married couples, church members, foreigners and other fun seekers.

Daily Times gathered that the beach is fast attracting tourists much more than the others due to the fact that the beach is new and fresh. It also provides a pleasant enjoyment with safe swimming conditions for all categories of guests. For this, the beach is gradually getting crowded with tourists, not only on public holidays but even on ordinary days.

Apart from the beauty and the serenity of Sultan Beach, their patronage soars high following the action of the Lagos State Government which fenced-off both the Eko Hotel end of Bar Beach to create a better beach called Kuramo Beach.

When Daily Times visited the beach, guests were seen enjoying their day. Beach shelters made of palm fronds and umbrellas were available for rent so as to keep the sun at bay, as well as provide a place to enjoy snacks or refreshments sold by local traders.

The beach was homely and different kinds of food were available for visitors. The environment is sandy with lots of plants and coconut trees.

Speaking about the beach, a contractor to Sultan Beach, Mr. Philip Anyawu describes the beach as one of the best due to its nature. Anyanwu said he been Sultan Beach contractor for years and that for these years, the only challenge they had was the absence of electricity at the beach.

Anyanwu who appealed to the government to the government to address the situation as the business is very lucrative. “People do come here every day, mostly on weekends; they also come during Christmas, Easter periods, Valentine Day, Public holidays and other days.

“In the Sultan Beach, children pay N300 while adults pay N500. Our targeted customers are both white and black who can afford it, though it is affordable. In the nearest future we are going to build more hotels here. “Sometimes, we do have guests who stay for a long period of time as lodgers from different parts of the country. Even the Lagos State Government visits the Sultan Beach regularly”, Anyanwu informed.

On the flip; A photographer who works at the beach, Hungbo Dennis explained that the business used to be unstable at times, saying that they have peak and off peak periods.

“Sometimes, we record success and sometimes we record otherwise, that is the way it applies in every other businesses. Periods like Christmas, Esther, New Years and public holidays experience huge success and I have been doing this for the past 10 years. Well lack of some infrastructural amenities like electricity, good road hinder the business but I think when addressed, it would boost the business here and the people would start to experience traffic”, the contractor stated.

A guest at the beach, Prophet Erindebera Abiodun who attends Cherubim and Seraphim told Daily Times that he prefers to patronize Sultan Beach all the time because the beach is natural, fresh and good, stressing that he came all the way from Iyana Ipaja in Ayobo area of Lagos State.

Prophet Abiodun who said he was led by God to the prayer at Sultan Beach said “I am here for my career and to pray to God for the growth of my church. I came with a group for this one-week program and I know by the end of the program, God will answer every one of us. God is able”.

A first time visitor to the beach, Ndidi Uzor said her visit was the first and that she only came to view the beach.

“We just came in and have not really gone round the beach,” Uzor noted.

On the one hand, a horse rider at the beach who identified himself simply as Tosin said he has been riding horse at beach right from his childhood. He disclosed to Daily Times that the business is profitable, adding that it was through the beach that he saved money for his education.

“I am using my money for studies and it is lucrative. To ride my horse one has to cough out N700 for a trip and taking picture with the horse costs N300.

On the other hand, food vendor at the beach, Mrs. Oluwa Olusola while commenting on the beach said “We thank God for all these years. The business booms only on weekends. I sell soft drinks and food. We close by 8pm. It is nice and robbery cases are rare here. Our profits are reduced due to skeletal power supply which makes us to run on power generating sets most of the time. It is a government beach. It belongs to the Badagry South Local Government and it is open for all.
But to Oluwa Tomide, the beach is good but advised the management to reduce the gate fees so as to attract more visitors.

“We have been here for nine years, the peak period is the Christmas and Easter. The beach is managed by good people and it is equally well secured. The rent is affordable but the management should reduce the gate fees so as to attract more tourists to the beach”, Tomide said.

The Registrar of Marriage Registry Department of Badagry Local Government Mrs. Oluwabumi Samuel disclosed to Daily Times that the registry decided to create an outlet in the beach to make marriages easier and more comfortable for couples who don’t want much crowd.

“We are here for the couple that are coming here to seal their marriage and because of the activities that takes place in the beach, the Customary Court saw the need to have an outlet like this especially when the couple don’t want much crowd”, Mrs. Samuel said.

Inspite of this, Mr. Mathias Ali who traveled all the way from Kogi state for his wedding at Sultan beach said “I am here for my wedding. The lady I want to marry lives here in Lagos and she chose Sultan Beach. We want something extra ordinary. I love here”.

Commenting on the beach, Mr. David Ogunlana David of St Ferdinand Catholic Church, Ipaja who came to the beach in company of other church members said “We are here for picnic. We are members of Youth Christian Workers of Saint Ferdinand Boystown, Ipaja. We do this twice every year. I am here with some of our executive members. The picnic has its spiritual and social aspect just as it provides the avenue for prayers and to observe nature”.

“It enables us to see ourselves as one family and to see ourselves outside the church and understand ourselves better. During the period, you will see a brother picking interest on a sister. By the end of the day such experience will increase our numerical strength and the youth will see the beauty of the friendship and let the friendship become stronger.