NIGER: Radisson Blu Hotel & Conference Center, Niamey Now Open

Radisson Hotel Group opens the Radisson Blu Hotel & Conference Center, Niamey – the first and only 5-Star international brand hotel in Niger.

With 189 rooms and suites, eight meeting rooms and a dedicated conference center, the hotel boasts unparalleled views of the city from its city center location near to the Parliament and the Presidential Palace.

Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Radisson Hotel Group, said: We are delighted to open our first hotel in Niamey, the capital and largest city of the West African country Niger.

The Radisson Blu Hotel & Conference Center, Niamey will enhance the local hotel landscape as the country’s first and only five-star internationally branded hotel.

The hotel is a perfect addition to our Radisson Blu portfolio, the fastest growing hotel brand in Africa and our fast-growing African portfolio.”

Designed with modern business and leisure needs in mind, the rooms and suites offer the latest in contemporary design, keeping with local aesthetics for an authentic Nigerien ambience.

The room types range from standard rooms, junior and executive suites to presidential and royal suites.

With over 1,150sqm of space, the conference center is the city’s first and the largest of its kind. Equipped with the latest audiovisual equipment and standards in mind, this spectacular ballroom echoes both the business and social life of the city.

Along with the only conference center in town, the hotel offers another eight meeting rooms – ideal for any type of event hosting up to 2,500 guests.

The hotel offers exceptional dining experiences to suite all tastes and appetites. Guests can enjoy local and international flavors prepared by a team of international chefs at the on-site Al Mina restaurant, which offers convenient all-day dining.

The Lobby Lounge provides the perfect location for a quick tea or coffee catch up, whether business or pleasure. For those seeking a taste of international cuisine, the New York Restaurant & Bar and its pool terrace are open 24/7.

Guests can also bask in the views of the Niger River, with the Zaxi Rooftop Lounge & Bar providing a spectacular setting.

The grand and expansive 870sqm Lotus Spa Health & Beauty Center provides a space for our guests to relax and unwind, with facilities including a sauna, Turkish bath and a large jacuzzi.

The spa features six massage rooms, with special treatments designed to cleanse the body. Simply relax and soak up the sun at the outdoor pool or keep fit at the fitness center, furnished with the latest equipment and an aerobics area where classes are provided for in-house guests.

Be pampered with a manicure or have a haircut by internationally awarded hairstylists at the hotel’s Beauty Center.

Mr. Selim Bora, President of Summa Group, said:“Today, the city of Niamey witnesses a grand hotel opening, the first branded hotel in the city, Radisson Blu Hotel & Conference Center, Niamey whose presence contributes to the financial development of Niamey, and of Niger.

This is an important day for everyone who worked to make this great project a reality. With an overall investment of 38m EUR and another record registered in terms of speed.

Summa Construction Group has built this shiny jewel in only 11 months. Regardless of the challenges that we’ve faced along the way, today we are looking at the most unique, upper scale and high-quality hotel in Niger.

Mr. Husnu Tayanc, the Vice-president of Summa Hospitality and the General Manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel & Conference Center Niamey, said: We are proud to open the first and only international brand hotel in Niger and to bring Radisson Blu to the country.

This is the fifth hotel that Summa Group has successfully realized and the third project in partnership with Radisson Hotel Group – a relationship that we absolutely enjoy and appreciate.

The Radisson Blu Hotel & Conference Center, Niamey is, without a doubt, a landmark project for Niamey, and one that will redefine the area’s tourism map.

The hotel combines a palette of natural colors and design inspired by West African motifs, creating an elegant hub for the contemporary traveler, while the innovations and modern technologies make it a unique offering for the Nigerian market.

With our “Yes I Can!” service philosophy, we’re seeking to tailor the services to our guests needs and create the best experience, both for business and leisure travelers.

The Radisson Blu Hotel & Conference Center, Niamey will shine like a star in West Africa, pleasing the eyes of its guests.

Tourism Observer

MALI: Marriott International Opens Sheraton Bamako Hotel

Marriott International has opened the Sheraton Bamako Hotel marking its entry into Mali, in West Africa.

We are thrilled to build on Sheraton’s proud heritage in Africa that dates back to 1971, said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International.

Over the last four decades, the brand has maintained its first mover advantage through strategic pipeline development and growth, giving global travelers access to more destinations across the continent.

Sheraton Bamako Hotel not only marks our entry into a new country, but also serves as a great example of our transformation efforts around the brand.

The hotel is located in close proximity to Bamako’s Modibo KeIta International Airport in one of the city’s most sought after neighborhoods,

All 200 guestrooms offer panoramic views of the Niger river and the lush green hillside dotted with mango plantations.

27 Sheraton Club rooms and 32 suites offer exclusive access to the Sheraton Club Lounge.

Leisure facilities include a state-of-the-art Sheraton Fitness Centre with equipment available 24 hours a day, a spa and an outdoor pool.

Four distinctive dining venues offer a wide selection of global cuisine.

The all-day dining restaurant, City Grill, blends European and International cuisine with flavors from West Africa while a classic Paris inspired brasserie, the Brasserie Bamaquoise, offers the best of French cuisine.

11 state-of-the-art meeting rooms are equipped with the latest audiovisual technology and some of our meeting rooms boost natural daylight.

The Grand Ballroom with over 470sqm space provides the perfect venue for large conferences of up to 500 delegates or can be used for magical weddings or gala dinners for up to 400 people.


Tourism Observer

NIGERIA: Delta State

Delta or Delta State is an oil and agricultural producing state of Nigeria, situated in the region known as the South-South geo-political zone with a population of 4,112,445 males: 2,069,309; females: 2,043,136.

The capital city is Asaba, located at the northern end of the state, with an estimated area of 762 square kilometres (294 sq mi), while Warri is the economic nerve center of the state and also the most populated.

It is located in the southern end of the state. The state has a total land area of 16,842 square kilometres (6,503 sq mi).

The state covers a landmass of about 18,050 km², of which more than 60% is land. The state lies approximately between Longitude 5°00 and 6°.45' East and Latitude 5°00 and 6°.30' North.

It is bounded in the north and west by Edo State, the east by Anambra, Imo, and Rivers States, southeast by Bayelsa State, and on the southern flank is the Bight of Benin which covers about 160 kilometres of the state's coastline.

Delta State is generally low-lying without remarkable hills. The state has a wide coastal belt inter-lace with rivulets and streams, which form part of the Niger Delta.

Delta State was carved out of the former Bendel State on 27 August 1991.

The state was created following agitations for the creation of a separate distinct state by the peoples of the old Delta Province, the Urhobos, Ijaw Izon, Isoko, Itsekiri and Ukwuani later joined Anioma.

There was yet another state creation movement designated as Niger State comprising the old midwestern Igbo-speaking Asaba divisions and Ukwuani-speaking Aboh division of the old Midwest region.

This was transformed into Anioma following the creation of Niger State from the old Northwestern State by the Murtala Muhammed administration in 1976.

The then Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, created the state using the name Delta advanced by Niger Delta region and Asaba a prominent town within the Anioma axis as capital.

Asaba was designated as capital of the proposed Anioma State. The proposed capital was a virgin land or Anioma city in the heart of the two constituent divisions that had evolved to become the Anioma area.

Delta state was once integrated in the Mid Western state from 1963 to 1976 and later Bendel state, from 1976 to 1991.

The name Bendel derived from the old Benin and Delta Provinces of Western Region-Delta to reflect the integration of Benin and Delta provinces.

Delta State is ethnically diverse, with various linguistic stocks.

The first region is made up of three linguistic groupings, collectively referred to as Anioma.

They are of Igboid stock and composed of three main groups namely Enuani, who inhabit the Aniocha and Oshimili Local Government Areas; Ika; and Ndokwa/Ukwuani. All three inhabit the Delta North senatorial district.

The second region consists of the other three main linguistic groups: Edoid, comprising the Isoko and Urhobo; Yoruboid, Itsekiri; and Ijoid, Izon.

The Urhobo cultural extraction is the largest in the state with over 2 million native speakers.

The Itsekiri speak a language very closely related to Yoruba but have been culturally influenced by the Edo ethnic group from neighbouring Edo state, as well as the Urhobo, Ijaw and Portuguese.

The Izon are a branch of their kith and kin, in neighbouring Bayelsa State.

The vast majority of inhabitants are Christian, with very few practicing Traditional Religion.

Arthur Okowa Ifeanyi, a member of the People's Democratic Party, was elected Governor and chief executive of Delta State in April 2015.

His deputy is Barr. Kingsley Otuaro. The state has three National Senatorial Districts, South, North and Central.

In 2011 and 2013, the elected senators were James Manager, Arthur Okowa Ifeanyi and Emmanuel Aguariavwodo who replaced Pius Ewherido who died in 2013 at National Hospital, Abuja.

In 2015, Chief Ighoyeta Amori was elected Senator of Delta Central but his election was annulled and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege sworn in as Senator of Delta Central, James Manager retained his position and Chief Peter Nwaoboshi was elected Senator of Delta North.

The Executive, Legislative and Judicial Chambers are housed in Asaba with a government house annex in Warri.

There are various solid mineral deposits within state, industrial clay, silica, lignite, kaolin, tar sand, decorative rocks, limestone, etc.

These are raw materials for industries such as brick making, ceramics, bottle manufacturing, glass manufacturing, chemical/insulators production, chalk manufacturing and sanitary wares, decorative stone cutting and quarrying.

Delta state also has huge deposits of crude oil and is also one the largest producers of petroleum products in Nigeria.

Delta State has some historical, cultural and socio-political tourist centers that attract visitors from around the globe.

Tourism Sites In Delta State:

The Nana's Palace built by Chief Nana Olomu of Ebrohim. He was a powerful 19th century indigenous entrepreneur who traded with the British. The relationship eventually turned sour.

Later, he surrendered not without putting up a fight and was exiled to Ghana. His personal effects are housed in this grand palace.

The River Ethiope which is reputed to be the deepest inland waterway in Africa (at 176 km). Its source is at the foot of a giant silk-cotton tree at Umuaja in Ukwuani Local Government Area of the state and flows through seven Local Government Areas in the State.

It is a place of worship for Olokun traditional religion and also a common site for faithfuls of the Igbe Religious Movement.

The Araya Bible Site which houses a copy of the Holy Bible. It is believed that the bible descended to this spot miraculously from heaven around August, 1914. The bible dropped on rain-soaked yam and it didn't get wet.

The site now attracts thousands of Christians yearly.

Demas Nwoko Edifice which was built using traditional materials, designs and construction techniques of the Igbo civilization and the Benin Empire by Demas Nwoko, an architect, builder and artist of international repute from Idumuje-Ugboko, in Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State.

The Mungo Park House which is now the site of the National Museum, Asaba. The house was constructed by the Royal Niger Company (RNC) in 1886 and was used as a colonial administrative headquarters, a military house.

It was as well the colonial administrative divisional headquarters, the RNC Constabulary building, and the seat of the Urban District Council at different times.

The Niger Bridge which connects Delta State by extension, western Nigeria to the Eastern part of Nigeria. It is a beauty to behold.

It was completed in 1965 and cost £5 million. It was damaged during the civil war, but later repaired.

Lander Brothers Anchorage, Asaba which was built in memory of early British explorers. The complex has a museum, a graveyard, and many artworks and writings. It houses a replica of one of the boats that was used by the brothers.

Warri Kingdom Royal Cemetery which is 512 year old burial ground and serves as the resting place of past rulers of Warri kingdom. A tree is planted on each grave.

Delta State is known to have produced several sportsmen and women, notably Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, Sunday Oliseh, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Wilson Oruma, Efetobore Sodje Blessing Okagbare and Jonathan Akpoborie, Cindy Ofili.

Asaba is a city strategically located on a hill at the western edge of the Niger River, overlooking its sister city, Onitsha, across the Niger Bridge.

It is the capital of Delta State Nigeria. A fast developing urban area, Asaba had a population of 149,603 as at the 2006 census, and a metropolitan population of over half a million people.

Ahaba in Enuani dialect of the great Igbo language is derived from the exclamation Ahabagom, meaning I have chosen well, a quote from the founding father Nnebisi of Asaba.

The city of Asaba was once the colonial capital of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate. It was founded in 1884. Between 1886 and 1900, it hosted the Royal Niger Company, which the British authorities set up to stimulate trade and the exportation of goods to England.

That company has grown today into UAC Nigeria PLC. Scottish explorer William B. Balkie, when signing a trade treaty with Igbo chief Ezebogo in Asaba on August 30, 1885, remarked - After our salutations, I spoke of friendship, of trade, and of education, and particularly enlarged upon the evils of war, and the benefits of peace, all of which was well received.

Owing to Asaba's influential history and geography, and current strategic political and economic influence in Nigeria, Asaba is generally known as the regional capital of the Anioma area.

The clamour for creation of Anioma state has been going on for decades.

Asaba is situated on a terrace of the lower Niger River, overlooking the point where the Anambra River flows into it.

Beyond the river banks, on the high plains which are far more extensive than the river basins, secondary forest vegetation flourishes.

The historic Niger River is a trans-African link beginning from West Africa and down into the Atlantic Ocean.

Asaba forms a connector between western, eastern and northern Nigeria through the Niger River from the north and via the Asaba Niger Bridge, an east-west link and a Nigerian landmark.

Asaba lies approximately 60 degrees north of the equator and about the same distance east of the meridian; about 160 kilometres (100 mi) north of where the River Niger flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

The greater Asaba occupies an area of about 300 square kilometers. It maintains an average tropical temperature of 32 °C during the dry season and an average fertile rainfall of 2,700 millimetres (106 in) during the rainy season.

Asaba is traditionally led by the highly revered Asagba of Asaba, to whom the head or Diokpa of each of the five Ebos reports directly into on matters affecting Asaba.

Greater Asaba includes some of the other neighbouring indigenous Igbo communities—Ogwashi Ukwu, Igbuzo, Okpanam, Ugbolu and Oko, on the western section of the Niger River.

Since becoming the administrative capital of Delta State, Asaba has grown in population to over half a million very hospitable people.

Today, it maintains a cosmopolitan population of predominantly non-indigenous people. Some of the other groups in the city include Urhobo, Isoko, Ijaw, Ukwuani, Hausa, Itsekiri and Yoruba people.

Asaba is an administrative area established during the time of the Royal Niger Company now UACN.

It is currently enjoying the status of being the administrative capital of Delta state but due to the fact that Aniocha-Oshimili people maintain the identity of being Igbo, a lot of Igbo from the east of the Niger river invest in Delta state.

Precisely at Asaba thus improving the economic fortunes of Asaba area and Delta state in general.

The government also contributes to the economic development of Asaba especially considering the established Asaba textile factory constructed by Samuel Ogbemudia administration and the power substation at Asaba.

The city of Asaba also hosts Sure life pharmaceutical company that manufactures medicines, there is also a steel mill in the city and aluminium companies manufacturing aluminum products.

The Nigerian Federal Government is also trying to capitalize on the Ubu river in the Ogwashi ukwu area of the African city through the construction of a multipurpose dam that could be useful in generating electricity.

The lake that will form behind the dam could benefit the Nigerian Navy Maritime University which is also within the city and there are possibilities that the Muhammadu Buhari led administration would complete the dam project between 2018 and 2019.

The city of Asaba and neighbouring cities are accessible by air through the Asaba international airport.

Asaba Benin express road is an important road which connects parts of eastern Nigeria with western Nigeria.

There is also a road that connects Asaba areas with Ughelli while the Asaba-Ebu road connects the city of Asaba with northern Nigeria.

Asaba is served by the water transportation available through the Niger River which surrounds most parts of the African city.


Tourism Observer

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Oil Producing Country,Majority Are Very Poor, Officials Always Ask For Bribes

Equatorial Guinea is a small country in West Africa, divided into two parts, the mainland and the islands. A former Spanish colony, it borders Cameroon and Gabon. This country is one of the largest oil producing countries in Sub-Sahara, behind Angola and Nigeria.

Since the discovery, the country has flown into economic stardom, but this country remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world, and it is very common to see officials asking for bribes around the corners of the country.

In the Rio Muni region there is believed to have been a widespread pygmy population, of whom only isolated pockets remain in the north. Bantu migrations between the 17th and 19th centuries brought the coastal tribes and later the Fang.

The Portuguese explorer Fernão do Pó, seeking a path to India, is credited as being the first European to discover the island of Bioko in 1472. He called it Formosa "Beautiful", but it quickly took on the name of its European discoverer. The islands of Fernando Pó and Annobón were colonized by Portugal in 1474.

In 1778, the island, adjacent islets, and commercial rights to the mainland between the Niger River and Ogoue Rivers were ceded to the Spanish Empire in exchange for territory in the American continent. From 1827 to 1843, the United Kingdom established a base on the island to combat the slave trade which was then moved to Sierra Leone upon agreement with Spain in 1843.

In 1844, on restoration of Spanish sovereignty, it became known as the Territorios Españoles del Golfo de Guinea Ecuatorial. The mainland portion, Rio Muni, became a protectorate in 1885 and a colony in 1900. Between 1926 and 1959 all three regions were united as the colony of Spanish Guinea.

Equatorial Guinea gained independence from Franco's Spain in October 1968. Since then, it has been ruled by two men. Francisco Macías Nguema, the first president, was a brutal dictator who despised intellectuals, killed a large number of the ethnic Bubi minority, banned fishing, and awarded himself a huge number of grandiose titles,including President for Life. He was overthrown by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in 1979 and later captured and executed by shooting.

Obiang's rule has seen less violence, but his regime is still brutally repressive. Political power is centralized in his small mainland clan, and most senior members of the government are related. The discovery of oil reserves offshore in 1996 has brought considerable wealth to the country, giving it one of the highest GDP per capita in Africa, yet much of the money goes into the hands of a thuggish and corrupt government, with majority of the people remaining very poor.

Equatorial Guinea has two distinctive and very pronounced seasons: rainy and dry seasons. April to October are the wettest months of the year, and December to March are the driest.

The major ethnic groups are the Fang of the mainland and the Bubi of Bioko Island.

Equatorial Guinea recognizes the major Christian holidays. October 12 is Independence Day.

Regions

Río Muni (Bata) - all of the mainland

Bioko (Malabo) - island in the Gulf of Guinea, includes the capital city

Annobon small island in the south of Sao Tome Island out in the Atlantic

Towns And Cities

Malabo - the capital, on Bioko

Acalayong

Bata - the major city on the mainland

Ebebiyin - a major access point in the far northeast corner

Evinayong

Luba - another town on Bioko

Mbini

Mongomo

Visa

US/American Samoan citizens are unique as they are the only exempted country where its citizens do not require a visa for entry, this was done in a sucessful attempt to promote U.S. business intrest in Equatorial Guinea. However U.S./American Samoan citizens do need the following to present when entering EG: 2 visa applications, 2 passport photos, bank statement noting a minimum of $2,000 in your account, & proof of smallpox, yellow fever, & cholera vaccinations.

In practice, if not by law, all you will need to present on arrival at the airport in Malabo is a yellow fever card and your passport. Processing occurs quickly, and without much fuss or even interest.

All other nationalities need to submit to an EG embassy all of the above plus passport and letter of invitation which is only granted from a Equatorial Guinea resident and almost impossible to get in order to receive a visa. In Washington, the fee for the visa is USD100.

There are two paved airports, one a few miles from Malabo (SSG), and one in Bata (BSG). The country's main airline is Ecuato Guineana de Aviación, which operates national and international flights out of Malabo International Airport. Other airlines flying to Malabo airport include Iberia from Madrid, JetAir from Gatwick airport in London, Air France from Paris, and beginning April 1st, Lufthansa flies direct from Frankfurt to Malabo. Delta Air Lines planned to begin service to Malabo from Atlanta in June 2009, but has now postponed the start of this route due to the financial crisis, but it may start in September 2009.

The capital is on an island. However, the mainland may be accessed from Gabon via paved tarmac roads and from Cameroon via dirt tracks,inaccessible in rainy season. Roads in EG, however, are in a very dilapidated state even for W. Africa and 4x4 is necessary many months of the year.

Note that the entry from Campo can be often closed. Also, the entry from Kye-Ossi and Ebebiyin may deny entry for visa-free Americans if sufficient reason for entry is not presented or if one is not ethnically Caucasian.

The official languages are Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Spanish is the language of education and administration, and is spoken fluently by roughly 68% of of the population.

On the island of Annobón, Fa d’Ambo,a Portuguese creole, replaces Spanish as the main language. The language is widely spoken in Malabo and among some people on Equatorial Guinea's mainland. Many residents of Bioko can also speak the local trade language Pichinglis, an English-based creole.

Despite the fact that French and standard Portuguese are official languages, they are not widely used. If you can only afford one phrasebook, bring a Spanish one.

The country also has a large number of indigenous languages, including Fang, Bube, Benga, Ndowe, Balengue, Bujeba, Bissio, Gumu and the nearly extinct Baseke. Most African ethnic groups speak Bantu languages.

Although there is an Anglophone ethnic group in Bioko, standard English is spoken by few people, even in the capital city.

There are lots of beaches so that would be a good thing to take in mind when considering sight-seeing. It would be advised to take precautions listed in the 'Stay Safe' category.

Everything is extremely expensive in Equatorial Guinea. A decent room with very limited amenities,bring all the necessary stuff like towel, soap, shampoo, etc as the hotel may not have any will be at the range of USD75 to USD300. A simple lunch will cost at least USD20,without drinks like wine, beer or soft drinks in a clean and air-conditioned restaurant.

There are several good places to go to eat particularly in Malabo. The coffee shop at Hotel Sofitel located just across the Cathedral along the north coast offers French cuisine. Hotel Bahia's main restaurant is also a favourite destination for both local and expats.

If you like pizza and pasta, the Pizza Place is the best place in town. For Asian cuisine, Restaurante Bantu offers authentic Chinese cuisine. For Morrocan and other European food, try La Luna. Try An Equatorial Guinean cuisine such smoked beef with a black pepper. There is also a roast duck with cheese and onion leaf.

Ebebiyin is known for its large number of bars. They drink a lot of wine.

Due to the influx of foreign workers and foreign investment in Malabo as well as in the continent, there is an ample choice of hotels.

Taking photos of any government properties is strictly prohibited without permission. Don't photograph airports, government buildings, or anything of military or strategic value. Local folks including children are generally averse to foreigners taking their picture. As a general rule, it is not advisable to bring a camera while walking around town as this can cause real trouble with the police.

As a general rule, avoid any and all conversation related to politics. Criticizing the ruling clique, and especially the president, will lead you to trouble really quickly. Your local contacts will suffer a worse fate. If you feel that you are being dragged into a political conversation, or if you are asked for your opinion regarding local politics, find a way to politely avoid the situation. In the worst case, say you know nothing about the local politics.

Equatorial Guinea has tropical weather and is normally very hot. It is best to wear lightweight clothing. Avoid wearing dark colours due to mosquito concerns.

Equatorial Guinea despite being a country with enough resources and is the country with the highest economic growth in Africa, does not provide any legal certainty for European, American or Asian working within the country.

Local people are very hospitable and have a certain affection for everything related to Spain. You should not forget that until 1968 was a Spanish province,the short lived democracy in the country was installed by the Spaniards, taking the last century as the beginning of the presence of settlers in the inland areas of the country where had a large number of farms in particular. In addition, half of the country's population immigrated to Spain between 1966 and the 1990s.

You must visit with a guide and need special permits in some locations. Consult to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where information using extended over the areas of risks.

An organized tour is recommended to avoid unpleasant situations with military checkpoints on the roads especially in the island of Bioko, where the presence of Westerners is obvious and therefore the risk is particularly evident.

Equatorial Guinea is, overall, a safe place to visit, especially in Malabo and Bata.

There are no drinkable or clean water sources in Equatorial Guinea. Travellers should drink only bottled water. Take care when consuming any fruits or vegetables that may have been washed or drinks that may contain ice cubes or 'water' additives such as coffee, tea, lemonade, etc.

Wear Shoes: Beaches in Malabo and Bata are beautiful however, due to discarded trash and unsafe sand bugs it is a good idea to always wear shoes. This applies to walking on carpeted areas as well.

Malaria Medicine: Malaria is a leading cause of death in this country. It is advised that visitors consult their doctor for malaria tablets.



Tourism Observer
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Gulf Of Guinea

The Gulf of Guinea is the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean between Cape Lopez in Gabon, north and west to Cape Three Points in Western region Ghana. The intersection of the Equator and Prime Meridian (zero degrees latitude and longitude) is in the gulf.

Among the many rivers that drain into the Gulf of Guinea are the Niger and the Volta. The coastline on the gulf includes the Bight of Benin and the Bight of Bonny.

The Niger River in particular deposited organic sediments out to sea over millions of years which became crude oil. The Gulf of Guinea region, along with the Congo River delta and Angola further south, are expected to provide around a quarter of the United States' oil imports by 2015.This region is now regarded as one of the world's top oil and gas exploration hotspots.

The origin of the name Guinea is thought to be an area in the region, although the specifics are disputed. Bovill (1995) gives a thorough description:

The name Guinea is usually said to have been a corrupt form of the name Ghana, picked up by the Portuguese in the Maghrib. The present writer finds this unacceptable. The name Guinea has been in use both in the Maghrib and in Europe long before Prince Henry's time.

For example, on a map dated about 1320 by the Genoese cartographer Giovanni di Carignano, who got his information about Africa from a fellow-countryman in Sijilmas,ancient trading city in North Africa, we find Gunuia, and in the Catalan atlas of 1375 as Ginyia.

A passage in Leo Africanus points to Guinea having been a corrupt form of Jenne (2,000-year-old city in central Mali on Niger river), less famous than Ghana but nevertheless for many centuries famed in the Maghrib as a great market and a seat of learning.

The relevant passage reads: "The Kingdom of Ghinea . . . called by the merchants of our nation Gheneoa, by the natural inhabitants thereof Genni and by the Portugals and other people of Europe Ghinea."

But it seems more probable that Guinea derives from aguinaou, the Berber for Negro. Marrakech the city in southeastern Morocco has a gate, built in the twelfth century, called the Bab Aguinaou, the Gate of the Negro. The modern application of the name Guinea to the coast dates only from 1481. In that year the Portuguese built a fort, São Jorge da Mina (modern day Elmina), on the Gold Coast region, and their king, John II, was permitted by the Pope (Sixtus II or Innocent VIII) to style himself Lord of Guinea, a title that survived until the recent extinction of the monarchy.

The name "Guinea" was also applied to south coast of West Africa, north of the Gulf of Guinea, which became known as "Upper Guinea", and the west coast of Southern Africa, to the east, which became known as "Lower Guinea." The name "Guinea" is still attached to the names of three countries in Africa: Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea, as well as New Guinea in Melanesia.

Islands in the Gulf of Guinea
The Gulf of Guinea contains a number of islands, the largest of which are in a southwest-northeast chain, forming part of the Cameroon line of volcanoes.

Annobón
Annobón, also known as Pagalu or Pigalu, is an island that is part of Equatorial Guinea.

Bobowasi Island
Bobowasi Island is an island off the west coast of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea that is part of Western region Ghana.

Bioko
Bioko is an island off the west coast of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea that is part of Equatorial Guinea.

Corisco
Corisco is an island belonging to Equatorial Guinea.

The Elobeys
Elobey Grande and Elobey Chico are two small islands belonging to Equatorial Guinea.

São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe (officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe) is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea that became independent from Portugal in 1975. It is located off the western equatorial coast of Africa and consists of two islands, São Tomé and Príncipe. They are located about 140 kilometres (87 mi) apart and about 250 and 225 kilometres (155 and 140 mi), respectively, off the northwestern coast of Gabon.

Both islands are part of an extinct volcanic mountain range. São Tomé, the sizeable southern island, is situated just north of the Equator.

MALI: West Africa's Lost Treasure Suffering From Terrorist Attack Again.

“West Africa’s lost treasure,” is how the overland company, Dragoman, describes Mali. For World Music aficionados, it is one of the richest countries in the world, with creativity flowing as powerfully as the Niger River.

In normal circumstances thousands of British travellers would now be flying south to engage with Mali’s imperial history, wild terrain and diverse wildlife - many of them heading for Timbuktu, an ancient seat of learning.

But these are not normal times, and the northern border with Algeria has proved a porous route for warriors and weapons.

The latest Lonely Planet guide to West Africa devotes just four pages to a country five times bigger than Britain, saying: “Its landscapes, monuments, mosques and music bars are off-limits, sealed from tourists by a conflict that is threatening the culture of this remarkable country."

Even before the bloody events in the capital, Bamako, Mali was on the Foreign Office danger list.

“Maintain several days’ stock of food and water in case disturbances take place,” recommends the Foreign Office. “There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnap.”

The north of Mali receives the most stringent FCO warning, “Avoid all travel,” because of a wave of jihadist terrorism. As this murderous attack shows, the horrors are spreading south.

For West Africa’s travel industry - which for the most part is embryonic - the Bamako assault will only spread the tourism blight that haunts the region. Ghana attracts discerning travellers, and Senegal and The Gambia are well prepared for sunseeking French and British holidaymakers. But the tone of much of media coverage of the Ebola crisis triggered unfounded fears among many prospective visitors - which spread even as far as the Cape Verde Islands, 350 miles off the coast of the African mainland.

In the immediate future, West Africa’s treasures will remain a secret. But as the new-found popularity of formerly war-torn countries such as Nicaragua and Vietnam shows, tourism can form an important part of a nation’s recovery.