The Lagos State Government has kicked off the construction of the “Door of Return Tower” in Badagry—a powerful symbol of homecoming for descendants of Africans who were taken away during the transatlantic slave trade.
The announcement was made by Hon. Bonu Solomon, who represents Badagry Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly. He described the project as a deeply significant development for the town and for Africans in the diaspora seeking to reconnect with their ancestral roots.
The monument is being built at the Mobee Waterside in Boekoh Quarters, just steps away from two major historical sites: the First Storey Building in Nigeria and the Point of No Return on Gberefu Island—where thousands of enslaved Africans were forced onto ships bound for the Americas and Europe.
“This isn’t just a tower,” Solomon said. “It’s a symbol of hope, healing, and reconnection. Unlike the ‘Doors of No Return’ in places like Ouidah and Gorée Island, which mark painful departures, our Door of Return represents welcome, reconciliation, and a return to one’s roots.”
Solomon, who also chairs the Lagos House Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, said the tower will put Badagry firmly on the map as a destination for cultural tourism and diaspora engagement.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for approving the project, which is now underway, and acknowledged the contributions of Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and Dr. Olaide Mesewaku, President of the African Renaissance Foundation (AREFO), for their tireless advocacy.