At Ijegun-Egba jetty, it’s fun all the way

CHUKS OLUIGBO

You do not consider it particularly worth your while at first, especially because you got there about 3pm, a little too early in the day, you will later discover, for the fun to really begin. But you don’t give up. Your friend has told you this place is fun, and you are bent on finding out if all he said was true.

 

So, you look around for a place to sit, then you notice the beautifully arranged concrete platforms on the pavilion facing the seemingly endless water body. You also notice the plastic seats and tables arranged a little farther off, also facing the waterfront, but you opt for the former where you can have a clearer view of the sea. And as you relax, you begin to have a rethink as you feel for the first time the refreshingly cool breeze emanating from the unfathomable, impregnable bowels of the sea. Then, as time lapses, the place begins to fill up, the fun begins in earnest, and you see reason to thank your friend for introducing you to this place.

This is Ijegun-Egba jetty, a place of unending fun, sights and sounds. Facing the high sea which stretches from Badagry to as far as CMS on the Lagos Island, connecting to the Atlantic Ocean on both ends, but which many operators and regular visitors to the place know simply as river, Ijegun-Egba jetty offers more than just fresh sea breeze and relaxation. From the long stretch of the sea to the beautiful greenery comprising coconut and other trees lining the entire length of the shore on the opposite side of the jetty, the array of boats of different colours resting on the walls of the jetty awaiting passengers, boats arriving and taking off from the jetty, or occasional speedboats cruising on top speed on the high sea, you are guaranteed of one thing – your eyes will never lack for beautiful sights.

 

Apart from the pavilion, many relaxation spots dot the whole area around the jetty. In any of these spots suya (chicken and beef), fish (boiled, roasted or grilled), pepper soup and other delicacies, plus an assortment of drinks – from soft drinks to beer and wines – are available on request. And the intriguing thing is that virtually all the spots sit on the edge of the sea so that while chilling with your bowl of grilled fish and beer you are not denied the pleasure of the beautiful sights and the refreshing breeze. Plus a number of daily-needs shops have sprung up to ensure you lack nothing.

Of course, the melodious sounds and party beats coming from the speakers in almost all the joints add to the fun and can make party freaks want to get up and shake their bodies, yet it can at times get too loud for comfort.

If you care, you can take a ride in one of the boats to any of the villages across the sea – Ibasa, Ibeshe, Irede, Ikare, Iyagbe, etc – but your surest bet will be the Ibeshe beach which is another tale of fun on its own. A trip to and from Ibeshe beach will cost you only N400. But if you don’t wish to visit Ibeshe beach or any of the villages, you can simply pay N1,000 for a refreshing boat ride on the high sea.

While on the high sea, you don’t have any reason to fear as life jackets are available for every passenger on board. But accidents are very rare here as the boat operators are usually very careful.

While you catch your fun, you are sure to see mobile photographers hanging around and making gestures at you. Don’t be scared, they are only there to help you capture and document the moment just in case you forgot to come along with your camera.

Developed and promoted by Oriade Local Council Development Area, the jetty, located in the Ijegun-Satellite area of Lagos, off Lagos-Badagry Expressway, is accessible through Finiger bus-stop. When fully developed, it is hoped that ferry service will be available from the jetty to CMS, with provisions for park and ride.

So, welcome to Ijegun-Egba jetty. But before then, here’s a caveat: you may need to bring along your jacket or sweatshirt because the sea breeze can really get very chilly, often defying the heat of the blazing sun – or you might just go back home nursing a cold.