Expert urges FG to convert caves into tourism sites

Lagos -  A tourism expert, Prof. Oladele Falade, on Saturday urged the Federal Government to convert neglected caves across the country into tourist sites.

Falade, who works in the Department of Tourism and Events Management, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview in Lagos that caves were historical tourism sites.

According to him, a huge number of such sites have been neglected over the years.

“Activities should be revived in some neglected caves across the country to enable tourists to visit the sites,’’ Falade said.

He said there was a lot to learn from such sites, which would enable the youth and tourists to understand the nation’s history better.

According to him, The Cave of Ashes in Isharun-Ile Owuro, near Akure, is a good example.

He said the cave was a cradle where the skeleton of West Africa’s oldest pre-historic man was excavated.

Falade urged the government to employ tourism experts, to turn things around and bring about change in the industry.

“Nigeria has historical monuments that can attract a huge number of foreign tourists and earn foreign exchange for the country,’’ Falade said. (NAN)