Lagos Commissions Ziba Beach Resort Phase III, Reaffirms Tourism Investment Drive

 Lagos Commissions Ziba Beach Resort Phase III, Reaffirms Tourism Investment Drive

Lagos State Government has commissioned the newly completed Phase III of Ziba Beach Resort in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, reaffirming its commitment to promoting private-sector investment and expanding tourism infrastructure across the state.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, who performed the commissioning on Friday, September 11, 2026, described the resort as a reflection of Lagos’ resilience, creativity and growing investment potential.

Benson-Awoyinka commended the investors, Mrs. Tricia Olumide and Dr. Olufemi Olumide, for choosing Lagos for the development and for continually expanding the Ziba brand.

She said the resort demonstrated the entrepreneurial spirit of Lagos and the capacity of young Nigerians to create businesses, employment and opportunities despite prevailing economic challenges.

“I see the spirit of Lagos here. I see the resilience of young people in Lagos. So when they say Nigeria has lazy youths, we should tell them no, we have resilient youths in Nigeria,” the Commissioner said.

The Commissioner stressed that tourism development should not be measured solely by the number of international visitors attracted to a destination, noting that Nigerians and Lagos residents should also be able to enjoy and patronise tourism products developed within the state.

According to her, tourism should also serve as a vehicle for stimulating domestic consumption, supporting businesses and creating economic opportunities for host communities.

“Tourism is not just about people coming from abroad. Tourism is about us being able to consume what we are producing. Everybody here is a local, is a resident, and we do not need people coming from outside to validate this for us,” she said.

Benson-Awoyinka also expressed optimism about further expansion of the resort, noting that the successive development of Ziba demonstrated investors’ confidence in Lagos’ tourism and hospitality sector.

While performing the ribbon-cutting ceremony, she said: “This is to Ziba 1, this is to Ziba 2 and this is to Ziba 3. And we have been promised that Ziba 4 is also coming.”

The Commissioner highlighted the benefits of the resort to its host community, particularly through employment, skills acquisition and capacity development.

She noted that both the construction and operation of the facility had created opportunities for residents to acquire skills and secure jobs in areas including hospitality, food and beverage services, housekeeping and other tourism-related activities.

“This is a local community and the local community has benefited from what you have put in here—in employment and in capacity building,” Benson-Awoyinka said.

She reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to creating an enabling environment for private investment in tourism, hospitality, entertainment and the broader creative economy under the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Development Agenda.

Benson-Awoyinka said continued cooperation between government and private-sector investors remained critical to expanding tourism infrastructure, creating jobs and strengthening Lagos’ position as a major destination for leisure, business and entertainment in Africa.

Ziba Phase III expands over-water experience

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ziba Beach Resort, Mrs. Tricia Olumide, described the commissioning of Phase III as a major milestone in the development of the resort.

She said the latest phase had expanded Ziba’s over-water offering with larger grand over-water rooms, loft-style over-water accommodation and a dedicated wellness centre.

Olumide said the project was driven by a desire to demonstrate that Nigerians could enjoy world-class luxury and hospitality without travelling outside the country.

She recalled that the concept of an over-water resort initially attracted questions about whether such a development could succeed in Lagos. However, the investors remained convinced that Lagos had the market and energy required to support a distinctive tourism destination.

“Ziba Phase III is proof that Nigerian creativity and hospitality can compete with global standards,” she said.

Also speaking, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nedcomoaks Limited, Dr. Kennedy Okonkwo, described Ziba Beach Resort as more than a leisure destination, stressing its contribution to employment, training and economic development.

“Ziba Beach Resort is more than a resort; it is jobs, it is training, and it is proof that we can build world-class experiences right here at home,” Okonkwo said.

He said the resort was helping to reshape perceptions of luxury tourism in Nigeria by providing an over-water hospitality experience accessible to Lagos residents and visitors.

Okonkwo added that the development demonstrated the capacity of Nigerian entrepreneurs to create globally competitive tourism products while retaining economic value within the country.

Ziba Beach Resort is an over-water resort in Lagos offering luxury accommodation, hospitality, wellness and leisure experiences within a waterfront setting.

The commissioning of Phase III adds to Lagos State’s growing portfolio of tourism and leisure attractions and underscores the increasing role of private investment in the development of the state’s tourism and hospitality industry.