Kunle Adelabu
Ongoing work at the site of the proposed Obateru resort with the castle on top of the hill facing the lagoon
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the first – ever standard resort in Ikorodu Kingdom would be fully operational in Egbin Kingdom, in Ijede Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, in the next 12 months.
His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa (Dr) Oba AbdulHakeem Adeoriyomi Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin Kingdom who is the facilitator of the project that would be facing the lagoon, disclosed this to THE IMPACT in an exclusive interview in his palace.
The classy monarch who said that he is developing his Kingdom for tourism attraction, said that his current focus is to fully developed the water that surrounded his community for relaxation.
When eventually berthed, the resort would be an added value to the beautification of Egbin Kingdom and elevate the tourism development of the axis, which already has Egbin Thermal Station, state – of – the – art – facilities in the residential area of the thermal station, the impressive Obateru castle and other features which are at peace with the Lagos lagoon.
palace link
“The only thing that we are yet to have and which I am working towards is developing the water that God has given us into a recreational facility and I am still working on that. My plan is to the community a recreational haven making use of the water that God has blessed us with. Give me another 12 months to this time, l bet you, you will see changes at the waterfront”, the entrepreneurship monarch assured.
Site of the resort facing the lagoon.
“I have designs (for the resort) from Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America and Dubai. We are still working on it though.
“You should be expecting a resort, at least a mini – resort where people can visit, sit, play and enjoy themselves. It is going to be a place where you can relax. I don’t think that we have any of such in Ikorodu Division yet despite the blessings water from God.
“So, I am transforming it. We should expect a place where people can come during Easter and other days and have quality relaxation and fun”, Obateru added.
The creative monarch who has interest in various businesses including oil and gas, farming, publishing, dredging, construction, electricity and hospitality business among others, disclosed to our reporter that the idea of the resort came early this year when some women came looking for a resort.
“It happened during the last Easter when two ladies drove their children and friends with foods and drinks in their vehicle, looking for a resort in Ipakan, but I told them that there is no Ipakan here. Ipakan is gone and gone forever. That place that they are calling Ipakan is NEPA Resettlement Centre, Egbin, with proves and evidences”, he said.
“I told the ladies that what I have here is my sand fill project but not a resort and I offered them the opportunity to spend time at my palace waterfront because they drove down all the way from Ikorodu and I didn’t want them to go back just like that.
“They were here and they enjoyed it. They said to me after their stay that, Kabiyesi, they will enjoy it if I can provide a place where people can come and relax and I promised them that come next year Easter, there would be a sand filled area where there would be tents for them to enjoy themselves”.
The Egbin monarch, who also assured that more beautiful things are coming into his Kingdom, told THE IMPACT that work has already started on the resort project.
“Already, I started with a trailer load of granite to barricade the place for us to be able to execute our plans without any interference”, he said.
“You can see that we have a small shopping mall at the entrance of the palace. When you have beautiful things outside, it tells you that there will be more beautiful things inside. You can also see what we have done with the driveway into the palace gate. You will see the way that we have nurtured flowers even around the palace and I am going to replicate that within the Egbin community, so that when you are coming into Egbin, you know that you are coming into a beautiful town”, Obateru said.
