Town of Coconuts

                   Badagri, a town in lagos badagri local government.  It is located at the outskirts of lagos off the gulf guinea close to Seme border. It has a growing population of over 240,000 people. It was founded around the 15th century by the European slave traders and got its fame through the slave trade. later it came to be inhabited by Christian missionaries, this was as a result of the protection offered by the harbour.

                  The fame gotten by Badagri through slavery gradually declined after its abolishment, so did the once buoyant economy of the town. However the relics  of slave trading has made the town a tourist attraction. Also the first storey building is found here built by the Christian missionaries. The economy is now based on subsistence agriculture, tourism and fishery afforded by the lagoon.

                     Contributing to the beautiful sceneries of Badagri are coconut trees covering 100,000’s of kilometres of land facing the lagoon. This plant contributes a lot to its economy. Over the years the naturally occurring coconut trees have become a major cash crop. The coconut tree happens to be an all useful plant since every part of it namely: the fruits i.e coconut, the leaves and the trunk is useful.

                 Cocos  nucifera  is  the scientific name of coconut. It is of two species: the hybrid which has a rapid growth and the naturally occurring which is the other breed takes a long time to grow and has a low yield rate. Like other palm trees, coconut has all its parts useful, they are:

v  the  leaves or palm fronds are used as roofing materials as in thatched roofs.

v  the veins of the leaves are used in making brooms used in sweeping ,they are sold in the local market.

v  the trunk can be used as bridges.

v  the fruit which is the most valued part;  the coconut is made up of three layers:

ü  the husk which is the outermost covering in used in making fire.

ü  The coconut shell also used in making fire.

ü  The fleshy part is eaten, the coconut water is taken for refreshment. In the market, wheelbarrows of peeled coconut are displayed about for the water.

Traders involved in coconut sale, export it in bags to countries like Ghana, Benin while some are taken to the eastern and northern parts of the country – it is a big business here.

                Artists also use the coconut husk in making artworks like cloth designs. Some other products obtained from the husk are sandals, which are found on display in the markets. A festival was held recently to celebrate coconuts, during the festival there were displays of different artworks, cultural displays and so on. Coconuts have served as a  major trade commodity to the people of Badagri.

              Aside a tour to Badagri, do not forget to ask for a coconut.