Lagos shuts Lekki Conservation Centre for maintenance after viral video

Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Government has ordered the closure of the Lekki Conservation Centre for repairs following a viral video where a tourist called attention to the poor state of the canopy walk bridge and some other areas.

A statement posted on the government’s social media pages late Tuesday said officials of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Lagos State Safety Commission visited the reserve in response to the viral video.

The statement further revealed that the broken section of the bridge had been repaired, however, the reserve would remain shut for “further routine maintenance.”

It read, “The Lagos State Government has observed with displeasure a viral video by a concerned tourist on a broken segment of the long canopy walkway within the Lekki Conservation Centre.

“While inspecting the centre, officials of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, in conjunction with the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, discovered that the broken segment had already been repaired and restored to normal.

“However, the site would remain shut for further routine maintenance.

“The Director,-General of the Centre, Prof Mathew Onoja, appreciated the State Government for its intervention after the viral video, which first circulated in December.

“He said the centre will remain safety conscious and will abide by the directives of the State Government.

“The Ministry would like to assure the general public that the Lagos State Government is committed to the safety and well-being of citizens at all tourist locations within the state and would take further steps to see that all safety standards are met before the centre is reopened.”