Tourism
Nigeria is richly endowed with some of Africa's most extraordinary tourism landscapes - from the remarkable meeting point of the warm and cold springs at Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort in Ekiti State to the rolling hills of Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River State. Complemented by vast forests, savannahs, wetlands, waterfalls, coastlines and cultural heritage sites, these remarkable landscapes represent a tourism wealth that many nations would envy. Despite this abundance, Nigeria remains significantly underrepresented on the global tourism map. Every destination begins with an impression. Every memorable journey begins with a place. Every great place begins with thoughtful landscape planning and design. The landscape is not simply the backdrop of tourism. It is often the destination itself.
Urban Greenery
Historically, Lagos has not been short of urban green resources. Neither has its leadership, from the colonial era through the independent period, been unaware of the benefits of green spaces and the fragile nature of the sand-barrier landscape upon which the metropolis thrives. Urban green spaces are crucial to biodiversity and the quality of urban life. Planned and natural open spaces together constitute the Metropolitan Open Space System, now referred to as urban green infrastructure. The history of Lagos greening demonstrates that the city has repeatedly recognized the value of vegetation, parks, wetlands, recreation grounds, agricultural landscapes and natural ecological systems. With effective planning, political commitment, public-private cooperation, professional landscape intervention and firm protection of natural systems, Lagos can rebuild its metropolitan green infrastructure.
Public Spaces
𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. According to The World Bank Group, approximately 54% of Nigeria's population now lives in urban areas, and this proportion is expected to continue rising as cities expand rapidly. In the face of rapid urbanization and climate change, 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 are no longer optional amenities; they are essential infrastructure. If Nigerian cities are to become healthier, more resilient, and more economically competitive, we must embrace 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲-𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 that place 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.
Landscape Architecture
Every major road, bridge, housing estate and industrial park ultimately depends on the quality of the landscape that surrounds it. Yet in Nigeria, one of the professions best equipped to shape these environments remains largely absent from national development planning. The future of Nigeria's cities will depend not only on what we build, but on how wisely we shape the landscapes around them.
Nature
Every rainy season, Lagos reminds Nigerians that flooding is no longer an occasional disaster but a recurring urban crisis. Roads become rivers, neighbourhoods disappear beneath muddy waters, businesses shut down, and thousands of residents are stranded. Nigeria's future resilience will not be determined by the width of its drainage channels alone. It will depend on whether we recognize wetlands, forests, parks, floodplains, and green corridors as critical national infrastructure.
