Badagri

Badagri, often spelled Badagry, is a coastal town and local government area in Lagos State, Nigeria. It lies on the western shore of the Lagos Lagoon near the border with Ogun State and is connected to Lagos by the Lagos–Badagry Expressway. The town is part of the Lagos metropolitan area and is known for its historic role in the Atlantic slave trade.

From the 15th to the 19th centuries, Badagri served as a major slave port where European traders and West African intermediaries exchanged enslaved people for goods. Forts, trading posts, and slave markets lined the shore during this era. Following the abolition movement, the area continued as a regional trading center under British colonial rule and later became part of independent Nigeria. The legacy of these years is preserved in several heritage sites, including the Badagry Slave Museum and the Badagry Heritage Museum, as well as the Point of No Return, which marks the routes used by enslaved Africans.

Today Badagri’s economy combines fishing, agriculture, and a growing emphasis on tourism. Visitors come to see coastal beaches, historical buildings, markets, and cultural performances that reflect Yoruba and other local traditions. The town is administered as a local government area of Lagos State, with development efforts focusing on infrastructure and heritage preservation to support residents and visitors alike.