A Fairy Tale, Dream Home for the Super-Rich

Several decades ago, the Lagos Bar Beach was a popular resort for people of Lagos and foreigners alike. In those days, the beach was over one and a half kilometers away from where it is at present. Then tourists and picnickers thronged the location.   In the days before Nigeria’s Independence in 1960, Lagosians would […]

Several decades ago, the Lagos Bar Beach was a popular resort for people of Lagos and foreigners alike. In those days, the beach was over one and a half kilometers away from where it is at present. Then tourists and picnickers thronged the location.

 

In the days before Nigeria’s Independence in 1960, Lagosians would troop out in colourful attires and beach wears to picnic, swim and perform other forms of water recreational activities at the Bar Beach.

All these were gradually denied Lagosians by the gradual but steady erosion of the ocean shoreline, which got to its peak in 2005 when Ahmadu Bello Way was almost washed away.

Findings into what led to the idea of the proposed Atlantic City, embarked on by Lagos state government, revealed that the neglect of the Bar Beach by successive governments after the attainment of Independence led to the gradual erosion of the shoreline.

In an attempt to put an end to the beach erosion, between 1960 and 1990, the federal government spent an amount in excess of N37.5 billion ($250 million) wasin regular sand replenishment, to restore the beach.

But, the intervention of the administration of ex-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu that awarded the first contract for the protection of the shoreline created  not only the desired permanent solution to the erosion of the beach , but it also brought about the idea of an Atlantic City, a specially created settlement on the Atlantic.

The first phase of restoration and stabilization of the Lagos Bar Beach was 1,000 meters in length. The Tinubu administration committed resourcesto this phase of the project which started in January 2006. It started at a point just to the west of Abia State Liaison Office up to the IMB building. This was identified as the section of the beach where the erosion was most severe. The construction of the Sea Defence System, automatically curtailed the erosion problem. It was commissioned on April 4, 2007.

However, between 4 to the July 7, 2007, Victoria Island and the Bar Beach were subjected to extreme storm conditions. Sea levels were elevated by two meters above normal levels, and strong winds further aggravated the situation. According to the State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, the violent waves also pounded the shoreline defence structure relentlessly over a three day period, breaking directly on the leading edge of the structure.

He explained that despite these exceptional conditions, the structure withstood the full force of the storm throughout the period. The section of the road to the rear of the structure remained dry and completely unaffected. On the other hand, other areas unprotected by the shoreline protection, especially east of the IMB building, received a deluge of water, and were flooded with localized erosion.

Oniru stressed that it was at this point that the government came to the realization that there was need to extend the system by a distance of about 500 meters from where it was stopped. That is a few meters after the Adetokunbo Ademola street junction, the second phase of the beach restoration project.

The second phase was a 500-meter length project embarked upon by incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola. It commenced from the IMB building to the end of Ahmadu Bello Way, behind the Lifeguard Tower. It was commissioned on Thursday December 18, 2008 to the admiration of people of Lagos, especially residents of Victoria-Island and Ikoyi.

Prince Oniru whose father’s palace and ancestral land opposite the Bar Beach was threatened by the ravaging erosion from the Atlantic Ocean told Sunday Trust   that after completion of the 1,500 meter shoreline protection as a permanent solution and protection against perennial ocean surge at the Bar Beach, the Fashola administration developed a concept of the Eko Atlantic City.

The Eko Atlantic City concept, according to the prince, is to restore land lost to coastal erosion since the late 1950s, and to provide a permanent solution to the erosion, by way of a robust sea wall along the newly reconstructed coastline. He said the project is mainly a private investment initiative with no direct government funding; adding that many lots investors had bought into the project.

Findings showed that the turning of the sod for Eko Atlantic City took place on April 18, 2008 at the Bar Beach by the late President Umaru Yar’adua,  who was represented by the then Chief Economic Adviser , Malam Tanimu Yakubu.

The overall area to be reclaimed is 820 hectares, while the length of the development is 6,500 meters, an average 1,260 meters wide. From the sketch of the development made available, the Western boundary of Eko Atlantic City is the existing East Mole constructed by the colonial government between 1905 and 1908, to protect the Apapa Port entrance.

To the Southern boundary is the main revetment which is 6,500 meters in length and in the Eastern boundary is a revetment of 920 meter in length, and incorporates a large Marina with access to the sea. The northern boundary is the existing Victoria Island, and more specifically the Ahmadu Bello Way which, according to Governor Fashola, would be extended to an eight lane highway (which was described as a Coastal Road). Also incorporated in the project is a central waterway which is 30 meter wide and capable of providing water transport facilities connecting the three Marinas.

The targeted residents for the city, according to Prince Oniru, are about 250,000, while 150,000 commuters are expected to go to the city daily to work. Facilities listed to be provided at the city are an international standard road network, surface water drainage, and dedicated electrical power generation plant and underground distribution.

Others are water supply treatment and distribution mains, sewage collection mains leading to a modern treatment plant, a network of service ducts to provide telecommunication services, and post construction maintenance and management of facilities.

The commissioner added that reclamation work for the city had commenced since June 2008, noting that as at May 2010, significant development of land has continued to appear. The land reclaimed by Dredging Internal Service Limited is 728,873 square meters.

The Managing Director of South Energyx Nigeria Limited, Mr David Frame, whose company handles the project, said the city will be split into seven unique districts to accommodate the proposed 250,500 residents. He added that a business district has been inculcated into the layout to make the city one of the best financial districts on the African continent.

Frame said the project was being financed by consortium of local banks, including First Bank of Nigeria Plc, GTB Bank, FCMB, while some foreign financial institutions have been granted concession by the Lagos State government to reclaim the land and develop it.

He said, “Eko Atlantic City will comprise of seven districts like ocean front, harbor lights, business district, Eko Drive, Marina Avenues and Downtown. The Business District will be spread across 1.3 million squares meters of land, dedicated to providing West Africa with a world-class commercial hub.

Frame stressed that Eko financial centre would be the heartbeat  of the business district, adding that the financial centre will have imposing towers that will  house the corporate headquarters’, banks, insurance companies and leading companies  in the oil and gas sector, as well as departments for Stocks Exchange, Convention Centre, Auditoriums and Hotels,” he said.

He added that a global Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and other vital documents pertaining to housing development has been issued to the firm by the Lagos state government, adding that a global planning approval has also been granted by the state government to ensure compliance with laid down building plans. “We have global Certificate of Occupancy, global planning approval and layout for the estate. The developers will have to submit their building plans to us and ensure it complies with the agreed specifications of the Lagos State government.

Investigations, however, revealled that the developer of the project, the South Energx Ltd will develop the city on Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) system for a period of 35 years, before Lagos state could lay claim to its ownership.

Eko Atlantic were recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative in 2009 , as committed to combating the threat of flooding to Victoria Island, Lagos from rising sea levels, through the negative effects of climate change,” he said.

However, industry  observers  commend  the state government’s initiative  and corroborated the fact that the existence of Atlantic City  will assist immensely in arresting  housing deficit in Nigeria and in particular  Lagos  State where there is acute shortage of  accommodation for the teeming population. This is apart from creating  an international standard city with a 21th Century concept in Nigeria.

Mr Kolawole Diya of Diya Fatimilehin and Co, a firm of Estate Surveyors and Values, said the city remained the solution to the overcrowding problem of Victoria Island, adding that it will create the required number of properties, where people can live and work in harmony.

He said that the sand filling for the entire project is expected to be completed by 2016, adding that more than 1.3 million square meters of land are already visible and for sale. On the competence of the developers, Diya noted that the South Energx Ltd, which  is part of the Chagoury Group, has been active in Nigeria for more than 30 years, saying “the company has a track record in the country, for successful completion of major construction and engineering work.

He said when completed the much-talked about Eko Atlantic city will have zero tolerance for street parking, adding that the sea wall, fondly called the great wall of Lagos, would be widened for pedestrians, and designed to withstand the worst storms.

For Mathew Daisy, a Real Estate Manager, the city, when inhabited, would command unprecedented increase in property value, adding that it is an upgraded and high class location that would attract the super rich in the society.

He said houses at the Eko Atlantic city are for those with ‘big bucks’. “They are those who can afford it. It is not just going to buy the houses, but a status symbol for those living in the city. If the land alone, as advertised by the developers, could cost as high as N245 million per plot of land, what do you think a home in the city will be worth?” he asked.

 

At present, fun-seekers and picnickers could be seen at the Bar Beach at weekends, having fun. Mrs Ajayi Oduwole, a banker, who was at the beach in company of her family, commended the state government for turning the neglected beach to a tourist haven. “It is a well-planned and structured environment now, compared to what this place was about a decade ago. The restoration of the beach has some advantages as it saves Victoria Island from being eaten up by the sea, create employment for some jobless youth, and creates an enabling environment for fun seekers,” she said.

On the planned Eko Atlantic City, Mrs Oduwole doubts if such city could be built on the sea. “I’ve heard the story about the proposed Atlantic City, but I wonder where they would build it. Is it on the sea or here at the shoreline?” she asked.

She described the proposed city as a dream by politicians to deceive members of the public that they have a place to sink the revenue they generated from the state. Even if the government gives the project to a foreign developer to execute, what would be the cost of putting such gigantic project in place?” she asked.

The mother of three wants the government to focus on projects that can give immediate employment to the numerous unemployed youths, saying, “I hope this project will not spark off controversy like the Lagos-Epe toll–gates project.”