Gambiaj.com – (LAGOS) – After losing its prized Lagos beachside real estate to a controversial government plan for a coastal highway, Nigeria’s Landmark Africa is setting its sights on new opportunities in Nigeria and The Gambia. The company is planning to build two new beach properties in West Africa, according to CEO Paul Onwuanibe.

Onwuanibe revealed that Landmark Africa has received invitations to develop waterfront leisure hubs from the Gambian government and three state governments in Nigeria’s southeast. These projects aim to boost tourism in these regions. The two commissioned projects include a development in Akwa Ibom, an oil-producing Nigerian state on the Atlantic Ocean, which is expected to open by the end of the year. The Gambian project is anticipated to take longer to complete.

Onwuanibe expressed enthusiasm about replicating Landmark’s success in The Gambia, a country of 2 million people with a relatively well-developed tourism sector. Despite the lower purchasing power compared to Lagos, he noted that The Gambia’s authorities have a clear vision for becoming a top tourist destination and are creating an environment conducive to tourism.

“My team met with the Gambian President’s envoy, including the First Lady, today to finalize plans,” Onwuanibe told Semafor Africa on Friday.

Both developments, for which Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) have been signed, will be wholly funded by Landmark Africa at $5 million each. The land for these projects will be provided by the government partners.

The demolition of leisure and entertainment structures on Landmark Beach in Lagos in April sparked controversy among tourism industry observers. Critics questioned the wisdom of destroying what was considered the biggest tourism spot in Lagos to build a road.

Nigerian government officials defended the decision, stating that the beach was on the proposed path of a 700-kilometer highway connecting Lagos in the southwest to Calabar in the east. Notice for the demolition was served in March.