By Joyce Remi- BABAYEJU
Delta State Chapter of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, FTAN, has commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over his deal with Abuja Boat Club to upgrade and revitalise the Lander Brothers Anchorage.
The Lander Brothers Anchorage is a historical monument which flanks the of bank River Niger in Asaba, Delta state.
Delta State Coordinator of FTAN, Mrs Evelyn Gbesoko said that the governor’s move to grade the historic tourism site to an international tourist site and relation center is a step in the right to boost tourism traffic to the state.
Gbesoko said that the multi-million naira anchorage standardisation and revitalisation project would increase the state’s internally generated revenue in the marine tourism sector with sufficient support from the public and private sectors to make it viable and sustainable project.
She said, ” This 13 years lease of Lander Brothers Anchorage to the reputable Abuja Boat Club, worth N524 million, is indeed a landmark deal on marine tourism development in Delta state.”
The state Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu disclosed that the state Executive Council has approved the deal with the Abuja Boat Club because of its reputation in international tourism business sector.
The original boat and other artifacts that have to do with the expedition and Europeans’ contacts with the people of Asaba are the artifacts one sees, while visiting the Richard Lander Museum.
It was built in memory of the Lander Brothers-Richard and John who anchored at about that spot of the River Niger during the expedition that they took over from Mungo Park. The erected anchorage is, however, not the original one but a replica; the original one is at Aboh. The Lander Brothers are credited with the discovery of the mouth of the River Niger.
This led to the opening of the West African trade which eventually replaced slave trade. The anchorage has an information centre and a restaurant.
