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ALLURING PLACES OF INTEREST IN ENUGU STATE BY ONYEKACHI EZE
Enugu State is gifted with several untapped natural resort centres. From the awesome Milliken Hill to the amazing Awhum Waterfall and the seven wonders of Opi Lake, the State has lots of places of interest for visitors and fun seekers, several of which are not even mentioned.
The Enugu State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, have stated that there are over 100 tourism sites in the state. The Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Dame Ugochi Madueke, disclosed that Awgu, one of the 17 Local Government Areas in the state, has over six waterfalls and lots of caves. She listed tourism sites in the State to include Monkey Reservation Site in Akpugoeze, the Milliken Hills, the Awhum Waterfalls, and the Ezeagu Heneke Lake where there is both cold and hot spring water co-existing on the same spot; one of natures wonders one would say.
Other tourism sites include the popular Nike Lake, Adada River, Ozala Lake and Odo-ukwa Cave in Amafia, Ogwofia village, Ozom Aguobu-Owa, as well as the Malogwu Cave in Awha, both in Ezeagu Local Government Area, believed to be places where God had lived (Ebe Chukwu biri), before He ascended to heaven.
The Commissioner expressed the hope that the introduction of e-ticketing within the tourism facilities “will lead to economic boom,” and “maximally reduce corrupt practices around the environment.”
Milliken Hill
Milliken Hill, the undulating 11 km road, which runs from the popular New Market, Enugu, through Ngwo to 9th Mile Corner in Udi Local Government Area, is one of the several tourist attractions in Enugu State. Wikipedia describes the road as “a natural roller coaster,” while a social media user, says, “it’s actually the most beautiful in the world, and even in the planet Mars.” It is simply awesome!
What makes the Milliken Hill attractive is the zigzag nature of the road, subjecting users to snake-like movement. It has about 33 sharp bends. The tip of the hill offers visitors a panoramic view of the city of Enugu. The valley underneath, is however breathtaking, and contains “relics of coal mines and its beautiful tunnels.” This is where residential quarters of coal miners at Iva Valley, Onyeama and Okpara mines, are located, and some miners still live in these places up till today , willing to narrate their pleasant experiences working as coal miners in the 30s, 40s up to the 70s, when coal provided much of Nigeria’s federal and regional revenue.
The Milliken hill is the most popular and most visited hill in Enugu, and is ideal for mountaineering, hiking and camping.
Milliken Hill drives name from the head engineer who designed the road, a Briton, Engr. A. B. Milliken. The construction work began in 1926, following the discovery of coal in Enugu in 1909 by British merchants and explorers. It was later reconstructed and remodelled by the Enugu State Government, and re-commissioned for public use on July 18, 2018.
Ngwo Pine Forest and Cave
Ngwo Pine Forest, a recreational area comprising rows of pine trees, a cave and a waterfall, is a forest reserve established by the British colonial government to provide protection from deforestation, as well as for sustainable supply of timber. Also known as Ngwo Pine Forest Formation (NPFF), the rows of pine trees in the forest form a natural canopy and a beauty to behold.
The cave and waterfall makes the forest even more attractive. The cave is formed from limestone, while the waterfall flows from an opening in its roof that forms a shallow pool on the cave floor and flows out as a small stream.
The cave is regarded as a sacred place, with a number of important cultural sites, such as shrines and burial sites. It is a good place for recreation and picnic, and has hosted a number of pilgrimages and educational activities.
The forest is of economic value as well. It is a source of timber and mining, though these exposed the forest to threat of deforestation. From the raffia palm comes wine, which is medicinal and good for the eyes.
Awhum Waterfall
Perhaps, it is one of the most visited tourist sites in Enugu State due to its links with religious activities.
The Awhum Waterfall is a popular religious site in Enugu State. Located at Amu-Ugwu village of Awhum town in Udi Local Government Area of the State, the waterfall hosts a number of pilgrims almost on daily basis, especially during Christmas and Easter seasons. It is managed by Our Lady of Mount Calvary Monastery, a Catholic organisation, which established a monastery near the waterfall in 1975.
The waterfall is about 30 metres high, and is believed to have potent curative effects “and capable of dispelling evil forces if and wherever it is sprinkled on.” In 2 Kings 5: 10-12, Prophet Elisha told Naaman, Commander of Syrian Army, to “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River, then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”
People therefore, visit the Awhum cave to cleanse themselves in the waterfall sourced from the miraculous lake. The waterfall has a cave. During the Nigeria-Biafra war, the cave was said to have offered protection to the natives from bomb attacks.
Opi Lake Complex
The Opi Lake Complex or Opi Lake System, comprises of seven lakes that are interconnected and linked up into a channel of water bodies. These are Ozzi, Ogelube, Uhere, Orufu, Ikpa Eze-agu iyi and Nkpo.
Opi is a community located near the University Town of Nsukka. Ozzi Lake, the deepest of the seven lakes, is located at Ugwu-Ozioko. It is 9 meters deep and 7km wide, and can be accessible by canoe.
Eze-agu iyi and Ogelube Lakes are separated by Uhere River, which flows in between the two lakes. Ikpa Lake is a unique place of worship. The lake is covered by a thick forest. The Uhere Rivers harbour crocodiles and other aquatic wild animals. It is located at Ogbozalla Opi, and also has a waterfall.
According to tradition, when a prominent member of the community dies, the waterfall announces the death through “thunderous and frightening sound as the water falls.”
The tourist attraction of Opi Lake System is in its breathtaking atmosphere and amazing scenery.
Odo-Ukwa Cave, Amafia, Ogwofia, Aguobu-Owa
This appears to be one of the unreported wonders of the world. The cave, which can be assessed from three points: immediately behind the home residence of Prof. Chiweyite Ejike, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUTECH), now known as the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT); can equally be accessed from the backyard of the late Igwe Malachy Okugo Ezeilo, a former Commissioner for Works and Housing in the old Anambra State, and as well from Obodo Amafia, Ogwofia, Ozom, Aguobu-Owa, directly in front of the home residence of Ozo Mascot Ohanaeze Ozokolie.
Odo-Ukwa is a spectacle to behold as oral mythology has it that it was the original residence of God Almighty (Ebe Chukwu Bunevulu). Odo-Ukwa has a cave that is believed to be over a kilometer long, projecting towards the Ezeagu Local Government headquarters. It has lots of stalagmite and a centre dome at the place believed to have served as God’s “parlour” while He lived here on earth. One could also see some hips of molten sand arranged in circular mode said to be where those who visited God for the resolution of one form of problem or the other had sat.
There is a suspended cold spring which source have remained a mystery as nobody has actually seen where the water gushes out from, and has remained invisible even if one climbs the meandering steep steps to the top of the cave. There is also a moderately cold spring water which gushes out from sandy substances believed to finely crushed stones placed by God himself.
The serenity and ambience of the cave was destroyed by an air-raid of the Nigerian Air Force during the Civil War when the Nigerian Military, erroneously believed that Captain Ezeilo, then Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu’s Chief Pilot and the Chief of Air Staff of the defunct Republic of Biafra, was hiding. The attacked affected one side of what once was said to have served as God’s parlour. That is why today, instead of just a single entrance, the cave can be accessed from the side destroyed by the Nigerian Air Force.
Malogwu Cave, Awha (Ebe Chukwu Biri)
The Malogwu Cave is believed to be a place where stone-age man lived. There is still the old belief that the cave is a place where God lived (Ebe Chukwu Biri), before he was forced to leave in a hurry to His abode in Heaven due to constant disturbances by the people.
Quoting old tradition, Prof. Hyginus Ekwuazi, Director-General of the Nigeria Film Corporation, Jos, Plateau State, said, “They (the people) were forever into one disputation or another; and, invariably, they roused him from his weary sleep to adjudicate.
“There really was no time for him to rest: they really didn’t care whether he was cooking, eating or sleeping: at whatever time of the day or night, the disputants poured in, group after group, pleading with him to sort out a land case, reconcile spouses, or even resolve an argument – they simply had a thousand and one ways of breaking his well earned rest into tiny bits.
“At last, his monumental patience was worn hair-thin. He absconded… and was next heard of in heaven.”
Evidence of sudden departure can still be seen in scattered cooking utensils, which were “the way he left them …all his utensils – and they’re all made of stone…. Who knows, he may come back some day….”
Those who visited the cave confirm its alluring features and tourism potentials. The water is believed to have healing power. The decrepit environment is denying government revenue that could accrue from tourists would love to visit the cave.
Ezeagu Tourist Complex in Omughu/Obinofia-Ndiuno
The Ezeagu Tourist Complex is made up of a waterfall, a natural spring and lake, and a cave, which is called Ogbalagada. The cave is located in Omughu/Obinofia Ndiuno communities in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State. The temperature of the water from the spring water keeps transforming from cool to warm, immediately one puts his or her feet inside it.
The complex is about 22 hectares in size. The waterfall is believed to be curative, and when the water rushes down the cliff with a loud sound, it announces the beginning of harmattan season.
Heneke Lake in Obinofia-Ndiuno Ezeagu
Pythons, guinea fowls and crocodiles are found in their large numbers in and around the lake. The lake is made of tunnels that lead to a big chambers where bats and alligator lizard are found. One peculiar feature of this lake is its various directional movements. In the morning it flows downwards; at noon, upwards while it becomes stagnant at sundown.
Nike Lake Resort Enugu
Situated on the banks of the Nike Lake, the 210-room and suite Nike Lake Resort is a leisure destination. It is a place close to nature, good for for holiday makers and fun seekers. Each of the rooms overlooks the lake. The hotel was opened for business in 1988
