Bomi’s Blue Lake to Become Investors’ Haven

MONROVIA – The Nigerian Contingent of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), NIBATT 22, in collaboration with Tubmanburg City Corporation (TCC), launched a major 30-day refurbishment campaign of Bomi County’s Blue Lake with the goal of making it both a tourist and investor attraction.

Blue Lake is one of the natural wonders of Liberia, situated in the pristine forest of Bomi County, with a depth of about 350 feet. It lies midway between the peaks of the surrounding mountains which, with the reflection of the sun, gives it its bluish hue.

Making remarks at the launch, the Commanding General of NIBATT 22, Lt. Gen. Benjamin O. Sowyerr, told reporters that the 30-day Blue Lake rehabilitation exercise is intended to create a tourist and investment attraction and to empower the youth of Bomi County.

The NIBATT 22 Commander further indicated that the rehabilitation of Blue Lake would be carried out in three phases – the clearing of the grass, renovation of the huts, and the training of about 200 youth in masonry, painting and carpentry, with the objective of providing job opportunities for themselves as well as maintaining the revamped facilities of the Lake.

“The renovation of Blue Lake, which is one of Liberia’s wonders, is causing so much excitement,” Sowyerr said. “We intend to make it an investor’s haven. And we hope at the end of the renovation, an array of government officials will be led by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to attend the official opening of the tourism facilities of Blue Lake.”

The mayor of the City of Tubmanburg, Ghilley D. Karnley, Sr., lauded the Nigerian battalion for its collaborative efforts in helping to transform Blue Lake into a catchment area, and to train the youths of Bomi County.

“We are grateful and want to assure you of our help to make the Blue Lake, which is being touted as an investor’s haven, beautiful. We are also happy [about] their determination to [train] the youths of Bomi County… in construction.

“Lastly, we are believing in God to build a multi-purpose gym, children’s playground and other facilities, to make the Blue Lake very attractive for tourists,” Karnley stated.

Reports have it that an earlier face-lift of Blue Lake was undertaken by the Pakistan Contingent through the instrumentality of Senator Richard Devine of Bomi County.

Devine, who has done a comprehensive study of the Lake and its surroundings, said that the Blue Lake is filled with underground spring waters from a large pit dug by the Liberia Mining Company (LMC), an American-owned company, in the 1950s.