ASSESSMENT OF THE TOURISM POTENTIALS OF GURARA AND MAYANKA WATERFALLS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Niger State has been blessed with various tourist attraction sites and of which Gurara and Mayanka waterfalls are among. So it’s in view of the vast opportunities these tourist sites have this study assessed the tourism potentials of Gurara and Mayanka waterfalls in Niger State, Nigeria. The primary sources of data used in this thesis include questionnaire administration, oral interview and reconnaissance survey. The secondary data used were journals, textbooks and conference materials, as well as Niger State Government documents on tourism of the study areas. These were used to achieve the stated objectives. The methods of data analysis used include frequency percentage, arithmetic mean and four-point rating scale. The result revealed that Gurara waterfall attracts both Nigerians and Foreigners while Mayanka waterfalls attract Nigerians (locals) as perceived by the respondents. The result shows that strongly agreed ranked the highest with 164 respondents, while no respondent disagreed in Gurara waterfalls. In Mayanka waterfall, disagree ranked highest with 64 respondents and strongly disagree ranked  the  least  with  42  respondents.  The  result  also  shows  that  189  respondents strongly agree that there exist tourism master plan for Gurara waterfall, 116 respondents strongly disagree for tourism master plan for Mayanka waterfall. This implies that only Gurara waterfall has tourism master plan but the implementation of the master plan was very low. The possible constraints of tourism in the study areas include lack of political will, lack of strategic marketing, lack of promotional programmes, and lack of proposed event product development; like festivals. Lack of political will ranked highest with 110 respondents and lack of promotional programmes ranked least with 46 respondents. This implies that the major possible constraint was lack of political will for the tourism sites. Tourist attractions in Gurara and Mayanka Waterfalls in Niger State are largely undeveloped as there is barely any onsite accommodation. Ultimately this negatively influences tourism as tourists are forced to limit their stay. It’s therefore recommended that tourism could flourish at Gurara and Mayanka Waterfalls in Niger State through proper co-operation and co-ordination of the key players which include tourism investors,   Niger   State   Government,   Host   Communities   and   Local   Government Authority.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the study

Tourism is a socio-cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes. These people are called visitors (which may be either tourists or excursionists; residents or non-residents) and tourism has to do with their activities, some of which imply tourism expenditure (United Nations World Tourism Organization, 2008).

According to Agba et al. (2010), tourism is a business entity that provides places and events to occupy people while they are on holidays; in its original thought, tourism was seen as an act of relaxation and sightseeing. Nigeria is endowed with many beautiful scenes and interesting places that are worthy for the eyes to behold (Nigerian Bulletin, 2014).

Tourism potential refers to the potential of a region, nation, or corporation for economic development and growth and creation of surplus value. It usually means that available resources have not yet been tapped and fully developed or exploited, possibly because of missing infrastructure (Larry et at., 2010).

Ajayi and Lawal (2010) viewed tourism to be anything that possess the natural ability or potential capacity to stimulate people’s interest and move people from place to place. Tourism creates opportunities for local communities to benefit from their culture and natural assets through employment in tourism activities and the supply of services and goods such as food, excursions or handicrafts, to tourism businesses or directly to

visitors, without having to migrate to towns in search of a better life (UNWTO, 2011).

Tourism today plays a significant role in the balance of payment of many countries both in the developed and developing worlds. Tourism therefore, brings huge economic and social benefits to many nations, especially those that carefully plan and manage their potential attractions or resources (UNTWO, 2010). Tourism development and finance is seen as a very viable means of economic development for any country. Apart from generating wealth for the economy, tourist sites also enhance community cohesion and promote peace within the host community.

Tourism is currently one of the largest economic sectors worldwide. However presently, tourism in Nigeria is still at its lowest ebb; with the government looking at diversifying the Nigeria economy through tourism and with current climatic challenges in Nigeria. According  to  Agcas  (2013),  tourism  has  been  identified  globally as  a  very potent instrument for executing meaningful community development projects such as poverty alleviation initiatives and rural emancipation due to its numerous economic benefits such as the huge money realized from tourism activities. Tolu and Abe (2011) posited that development is critical and essential to the sustenance and growth of any nation and that a community, region and even country can be classified as developed when it is able to provide qualitative life for her citizenry. The development of an area for tourist not only involves building of hotels and leisure facilities but also create a need to improve existing public and local amenities as well as creating new opportunities for the local communities.

Tourism need a high level of planning and this has to involve the local community in order for them to have a sense of attachment to the site (Ijasan et al., 2012).

Tourism industry has now grown to be the world’s largest industries and one of its fastest  growing economic sectors.  The most  recent  publication  of World  Travel  & Tourism Council (WTTC, 2014) showed that, in the previous year travel & tourism’s total contribution to the global economy rose to US$7 trillion, about 9.5 per cent of global GDP, not only outpacing the wider economy but also growing faster than other significant sectors such as financial and business services, transport and manufacturing and its total contribution to employment was nearly 266 million jobs about 8.9 percent of world employment.

Tourism is a very potent propellant of economic growth and employment all over the world. The Sector of Tourism is accountable for 8.8 percent of the world’s jobs (258 million jobs); 9.1 percent of the World’s GDP (US$6 trillion); 5.8 percent of the world’s export (US$1.1 trillion); and 4.5 percent of the World’s investment (US$652 billion) (Iain et al., 2013). In the era of globalization, the social contribution of tourism to community development cannot be ignored by any country, state, community and individuals with positive idea for development (Ezeani, 2015).

Tourism today has become one of the major facilitator of growth for Nigerian economy with a contribution of 3.20 per cent to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and providing 2.70 per cent of total employment in 2013 (WTTC, 2014). In Nigeria, the economic impact of tourism on her national economy is estimated at US$ 280 million or N36  billion  (Abubakar,  2014).  Downstream  tourism  potential  from  the  “export” revenues of international tourist spending are estimated to generate additional gross revenue of US$ 224 million or N29 billion (Abubakar, 2014). Tourism has been adjudged to have lofty economic benefits to societies. It is worthy to note that the economic contribution of tourism lies in the purchasing power generated from revenues through the expenditure of visitors (Ghosh, 2011).

Consequently, Tourism is one of the leading and lucrative industries in the world today that serves as a source of income generation. Nigeria tourism potentials can only be utilized sustainably, if there is political will by the government in terms of providing adequate security, building roads, airports, electricity, telecommunication and even internet facilities linking the sites. And then put in place a comprehensive data base for both inbound and outbound tourists’ movement and encourage active private participation in areas such as hotel accommodation, transportation and tour guide activities (Eja et al., 2011).

It has become the world’s largest growing industry; statistics by the world Tourism organizations shows that there are no signs of this growth slowing down in the next Millennium. To benefit from this global trend, tourism is being adopted by governments as a vehicle for poverty alleviation, employment generation and wealth creation by other nation which include Nigeria; and precisely Niger State can benefit from it. It is also seen  as  a  veritable  tool  for  the  realization  of  the  Millennium  Development  Goals (MDGs) (Isah, 2012).

1.2       Statement of the Research Problem

Assessing tourism potentials provide the biggest opportunities which are commonly viewed not only as a major source of employments, but rather show the road map for destination success. Similarly, it is crucial steps that address important issues on where are we, where do we want to go and how do we get there through which the tourism potentials could be enhance to attract the needed foreign investments and this may be lacking in the study area which this study intend to cover. In Nigeria today, the rapid rate of growth of tourism in the industry, is a sign of promising and lasting economic boost in the years to come. Several authors have studied and assessed the tourism potential of tourism both locally and internationally, and they include Musa et al (2018); Aremu and Lawal (2018); Scowsill (2015); Abubakar (2014); Adebayo, Jegede and Eniafe (2014); Esu (2012); Enemou, Anozie and Otta (2012); and Esu (2013).

Based on these published journals and thesis on the tourism potential and those one’s used in the literature review, there is paucity of knowledge on the assessment of tourism potentials in Gurara and Mayanka waterfalls in Niger State, Nigeria which this study intends  to  fill.  Therefore,  this  study assessed  the tourism  potentials  of Gurara  and Mayanka waterfalls in Niger State, Nigeria

However, as there are tourism potential on tourism, so also there may be negative social impacts which cannot be ignored; even though not within the scope of this present study. It is worth mentioning here, that there may be change or loss of the people’s indigenous identity and values (Isah, 2012).  In a similar vein, tourist attractions in Gurara and Mayanka Waterfalls in Niger State are largely undeveloped as there is barely any onsite accommodation. Ultimately this negatively influences the investors in accepting to invest in tourism and tourists are forced to limit their stay.

Niger State has been blessed water resources and other tourists attraction sites, part of this  natural  endowed  features  are  Gurara  waterfall  and  Mayanka  waterfall  which globally waterfalls attracts visitors in places like Niagra Fall, USA and Owu Falls in Kwara, Victoria Fall between Zambia and Zimbabwe it generate huge amount of resources to the government and to the indigenes by providing jobs and livelihood (Zambia National Tourist Board, 2013). Despite the state developing a master plan for Gurara waterfall, there is nothing to show on the ground, despite the potentials to attract people (investment) it has also fail. It’s on this basis that there is need to examine the potentials of the tourist site in Gurara and Mayanka waterfalls.

1.3       Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study was to assess the tourism potentials in Gurara and Mayanka

Waterfalls, Niger State, Nigeria. Within this broad aim, the specific objectives are to:-

i.      Evaluate the tourism potentials in the study areas.

ii.      Assess the shortcoming of effective implementation of tourism master plans in the study areas;

iii.     Analyze possible constraints to tourism in the study areas.

1.4       Research Questions

The research questions for this study will include the following:-

i.        What are the tourism potentials in the study areas?

ii.      What are the factors responsible for the failure of the implementation in the master plan in the study areas?

iii.     What are the possible constraints of tourism in the study areas?

1.5       Justification for the Study

The basic fact is that a healthy natural environment is the first and most important asset for the tourism industry in the study area and Niger State at large. The deplorable state of Nigeria’s tourism sector is confirmed by the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index where the country is ranked 129 out of 136 countries.

Musa et. al., (2018) assessed the tourism potential in Gurara Waterfall in Niger State, Nigeria with xvii

The  justification  of  this  study is  to  enhance  our  understanding  of  the  relationship between tourism and tourism potential issues in the study area, in addition to, evaluating communities’ level of knowledge on tourism’s impacts on potential impact of tourism on the economy and its benefits in the study area and the state at large. The result of the study might increase the understanding of the issues and limitations in tourism potential relative to tourism.

Indeed, nature is endowed with tremendous variety of waterfalls.  No two waterfalls are specifically  the  same,  and  even  the  same  waterfall  may  look  different  or  assume different forms depending on the existing surroundings. Nigeria is a country in quest of economic diversification from Crude Oil or hydrocarbon economy to maximize employment and income generating opportunities. In view of the dwindling oil revenue and endemic uncertainty in the global oil market, it has become imperative for Nigeria to explore more sustainable sources of income (World of Waterfalls, 2018; Suberu et al., 2015).

The development of Gurara and Mayanka Waterfalls have the potential to tremendously increase the internally generated revenue (IGR) of Niger State. Experience has shown that both Niagra Falls in USA and Canada and Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe attract  millions  of  tourists  annually,  while  revenue  in  excess  of  $500  million  is generated from their operation annually. (Zambia National Tourist Board, 2013). In a rapidly globalizing and urbanizing world, with appropriate enabling environment it is possible to develop Gurara and Mayanka waterfalls.

The water bodies used for the study serve as source for agricultural purposes such as fishing activities by the residents in the destination areas. Despite tourism’s increasing importance in Nigeria economy, the sector has attracted little attention in terms of adequate development to boost it tourism potential in Niger State. These sectors, that have been long ignored, were not believed to have great tourism potential. Thus, inadequate infrastructure and poor development of tourist sites are also constraining the sector. There is a particular potential for revenue generation in tourism (both domestic tourism and to a larger extent international tourism). The lack of impact to tourism potential in Niger State is the major motivation for this study, in an attempt to capitalize on these potentials. Therefore, the need to invest in infrastructure, service delivery, security and rebranding cannot be overemphasized (Proshareng, 2018).

1.6       Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of this study is to assess and determine the tourism potential of Tourism in Gurara and Mayanka Waterfalls in Niger State, Nigeria. The temporal scope of the study will be year 2018/2019 dry and rainy seasons. The data will be collected both during the dry and raining season, the water peak is on the high while during the dry season in on the decline which attracts less visitors. The spatial scope of the study includes Bonu in Gurara and Wambai in Mayanka.

The scope of this study will cover the allocated area for the development of Gurara and Mayanka Waterfalls in Niger State.

1.7       The Study Area

1.7.1    Historical background of Gurara and Mayanka waterfalls

Gurara Waterfalls occur on Gurara River which originates from highlands of Kajuree, Kachia  Local  Government  Area  of  Kaduna  State.  The  Mayanka  Fall  (place  of execution) is situated in Wambai, Suleja town in Suleja Local Government Area. The fascinating waterfalls located 108km from Minna. Its rocky nature is spectacle with evergreen trees. The waterfalls are used to be a reserved area as punishment zone for criminals in olden days, and has been in existence for 200 years but people display fear when they hear of the name Mayanka fall because of what it was before it became a tourist centre. Mayanka falls can be described as a cascade waterfall, one of nature’s gift surrounded with lush vegetation and appreciative landscape (Niger State Culture and Tourism Corporation, 2018).

Gurara waterfall is formed as a result of rock formation in the valley and is situated in an environment with abundant forest vegetation covering a vast area of land. In the past, the fall used to be called Gagarabadau which was later named Gurara hence Gurara Waterfalls. Bonu village is the closest settlement to the falls and other nearby villages includes: Lambata, Izom, Bususm and Tuchi (Niger State Culture and Tourism Corporation, 2018).

The Legend behind the evolution of the fall has it that the people of Kucikoro who migrated from Zuma Rock many years ago used to perform annual sacrifices at the Fall for good fishing season. (Niger State Culture and Tourism Corporation, 2018).

1.7.2    Location

The study areas are located between Latitude 8o 44” E and 9o 31”E and Longitude 6o

61”N and 7o  01”N, shares boundary with Paikoro in the North and West, Abuja East and Lapai Local Government in the South (see Figure 1.1). Gurara Waterfalls is about one and half hours’ drive from Abuja the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria.

Gurara Waterfalls originated from River Gurara which is a large tributary of the famous

River Niger. This impressive waterfall is located 2km off Minna-Suleja Road, about

68km from Minna by road and 35km from Suleja by road (Niger State Culture and

Tourism Corporation, 2018). Mayanka watefalls is about 48km from Abuja and 59 minute drive from Abuja the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria

Figure 1.1: Location of the Study Area

Source: Niger State Geographic Information System (2018)

1.7.3    Climate

Gurara and Mayanka waterfalls are located in a tropical climate characterised by two distinct annual seasons; the wet or rainy season and dry season. The area has an annual rainfall of less than 1000mm, which occurs between April and September having a peak period between July and August. The dry season Occur within a period of six months, between the months of October and March.

The  Temperature  of  the  Study  area  differs  with  seasons.  Through  the  dry season, temperature is relatively high because, the sun is in the southern hemisphere. High temperature of between 300C and 400C are recorded within December – April while the Wet season experiences lower temperature of between 260C and 300C highest within the season occurring at middays between May-July (Musa et al., 2018).

Suleja Climatic condition comprises of two major seasons which are the dry and wet seasons. Relative humidity is 72% in rainy season and very low during dry season. July and August usually have the highest rainfall while the mean annual rainfall is about 1334 mm2. March usually have the highest temperature of about 300C and lowest in the month of august at about 250C due to the frequency of rainfall (Musa et al., 2018).

1.7.4 Vegetation of the study area

Gurara and Mayanka Waterfalls are found within the Guinea Savanah vegetation characterized  with  typical  open  woodland,  numerous  forests,  plantations  which  are trees, shrubs and tall grasses mixed together creating a natural habitation for games reserves  and  also  providing  landscapes  for  relaxation  and  recreation.  The  periodic North-East and the South-West Trade Winds combine to give the area a moderate climate. Examples of Common trees existing within the expanse include; Gamelina spp., shea butter trees, Locust bean, Acacia, Baobab and Isoberlina spp. There exist at the eastern part of the falls a dense Forest rich in games therefore providing prospect for development of a zoological garden (Niger State Culture and Tourism Corporation, 2018).

1.7.5    Tourism potentials in Niger State

Niger State has over 138 tourist sites located in the Local Government Areas. These sites are more of natural and cultural attractions, and few are of man-made attraction. The sites includes; the famous Gurara Waterfalls in Bonu, Zuma Rock in Tafa, Nigeria Amalgamation Site Zungeru, Shagunu Beach, Pissa Cave and Lord Lugard Empire Hill in Baro, etc.

Pissa Cave is a natural tourist attraction located on Longitude 4°8’26”E and   Latitude

10°45’17”N, with Altitude 352.6mof the mountains of Pissa village in Borgu Local

Government Area of Niger State. The cave maintain inside temperatures between 14 to

16 degrees centigrade depending on the exterior weather conditions.

The interior has two chambers that may accommodate about 800 people at once. It is now home to some colony of African Bats, and also houses the remains of the Pissa people cultural assets. It is about 4-hour’s drive from New-Bussa town, having undulating terrain of the Savannah Mountain tour experience.   From Minna to Pissa Cave is about 503km.

Shagunu  Beach  is  located  in  Borgu  Local  Govrnment  Area  of  Niger  State  in  the Northern part of Nigeria. The beach is at the shores of River Niger in Shangunu village, and sited at the widest part of River Niger having a distance of about 24km across River Niger. The river is navigable for all crafts, and from Shagunu up-stream connects other West African ports by water ways to Koulikere and Timbuktu Mali.The biosphere is home to bird’s species of Herons, Egrets, Storks, Crown birds, Pelicans and Flamingos. Smaller riverside types include; White headed plovers, Crocodile birds, Curlews, and Green-red Sharks.

The fresh water fishes are: Catfish, Tilapia, Crap and Nile perch. The beautiful beach sand and the calmwater waves offer a spectacular view of the River Niger to experience the best of eco-tourism adventure. From New Bussa town through Luma village is about 92km to Shagunu Beach.

Gurara  Waterfalls  is  a  unique  natural  scenic  topography  in  Nigeria.  The  Gurara Waterfall is located in Niger State about 72 km from the city centre Minna and 45km away from Abuja the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. The major attraction is the waterfalls which span 200 meter across and 30 meter high. It has wide dramatic rock gorges with a scenic sloping landscape covered with trees. The huge rising spray of water running down on the gorges from different directions creates rushing sounds that easily arouse the attention of the visitors on approaching the waterfalls.

Its natural setting gives a spectacular view of its rocky nature with its ever rushing water movement that calm down into stream of blue pools as it meanders through the fascinating rocks and the lush ever green forest that gives the waterfalls the speck of eco-tourism.

Zuma Rock is approximately occupying about 10,500,000 square metre areas and rises to about 750 meters height. The averaged length is about 1,600 meters and an average width of 1000 meters. The open space surrounding the rock is about 700 meters.  The rock natural formation shows on it an engraved human like face image having eyes, nose and mouth; which is one of the best natural unique attraction and monument of Nigeria. Zuma Rock is a National Natural Geographical Symbolic Heritage adopted as picture on one of the Nigerian’s nation currency.

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