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More Information on Lagos Megacity Project

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Posted by: CareTaker on October 1, 2007 Under: Editor's Pick, Nigeria



The dream of a new, modern Lagos State came alive yesterday at THISDAY Summit in New York, United States, as the state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, unfolded his plans to a gathering of economic and political leaders from Nigeria and abroad. And to give the dream a boost, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Oceanic Bank Plc, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, pledged to make facilities in the region of $1 billion for the financing of the Lagos mega city project.

Also speaking at the summit, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua said long after he has left office, he would like to be remembered a Nigerian leader who institutionalised respect for rule of law in all facets of the nation’s life. Governor Fashola, who reeled out statistics from global experts on the future of Lagos, said the state would become the third largest mega city by 2015.
He said the forecast portended great responsibility for the government and people of the state. He said the state had suffered serious infrastructure neglect in the last 30 years, and that renewing the facilities remains the major task which the government has to concentrate on.

While inviting investors from all over the world to come and participate in the new Lagos mega city project, the governor said there are vast opportunities to be exploited across the state. He identified areas such as transportation, roads, waste management, provision of water, power, tourism, property development and establishment of bus assembly plants as attractive sectors for prospective development.

Specifically, Fashola said the development being funded by his government around the bar beach area would not only contain the perennial ocean surge, but also create a large expanse of land. The land, he disclosed, can be turned into tourist centres by investors similar to what is available in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking on the plans by his administration to make the environment conducive for investors and residents in the city, he said government would invest heavily to ensure the place is secure.

He unfolded plans to construct a light rail road system for the city and that by next year three of the seven water routes in the state would have been fully developed to facilitate marine transportation.

Fashola revealed that government had signed several contracts for the construction of roads, particularly in the western and central senatorial districts.

He said his government has agreed with the Federal Government on the total overhaul of the Lagos-Badagry expressway which will replace the present road with an eight-lane expressway that will link Nigeria to the Republic of Benin.

The governor revealed that the Badagry expressway project when competed would create a trans-west African regional route since the governments of Republic of Benin ,Togo and Ghana are expected to extend the road across their various borders.

He said 10,000 flats would be constructed in the Lekki Peninsula. The proposed ring road will link all the 28 activity centers in the state, he revealed, adding that a rail transportation from Ojo to Mile 2 has already been commissioned while there would be a water-way and the new Eco Atlantic City to be constructed on the water front, in addition to a fourth mainland bridge.

Until 1999, Lagos was generating N600 million a month, according to Fashola. That amount has increased to N7 billion monthly and the Fashola government has increased that amount to N8 billion since coming into power. It also plans to generate about N20 billion without tax hike.

Andrew Cornthwaite of Renaissance Capital, who made a presentation at one of the break-out sessions “The Case For Lagos Mega City”, stated that Lagos is one of the most attractive cities in Sub-Saharan Africa for investment. He listed some of the positive developments in Nigeria to include the steady appreciation of the naira, growth in the non-oil sector, naira being the lowest risk currency in the region, among others.

In order to be the third largest mega city in the world by 2015, Cornthwaite challenged the Lagos State government to provide the adequate legal environment, encourage participation from the private sector, provide appropriate regulatory/monetary policies and mechanisms for solving disputes.

Source: ThisDay – Fashola: How We Plan to Rebuild Lagos.

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10 comment(s)

  1. Omotaylor | Oct 1, 2007 | Reply

    This explains in detail about what the Mega City Project is all about and this sounds good as it includes the inner problems identified and if all these are going to be addressed then fine. All we need to do is await and see if like we have heard so many times before, that this is not just a political talk and will materialise, if honesty would prevail in allocation of contracts, if it will not be an elitist project designed to improve the lots of those in the “upper class” in Nigeria and if there would be a maintenance culture/program to sustain it.

    Meanwhile, I dont feel that uncomfortable with the project bearing in mind the details above.

    Lets wait and see, and I pray it all pans out well for we all want a better Nigeria.

    Good luck Governor Fashola and as you have the backing of Yaradua, may you not suffer Soludo’s fate.

  2. Ugo Okafor | Oct 2, 2007 | Reply

    I will very happy the day our leaders prepare the environment that will enable us build, manage, regenerate old cities and build new ones like the Mega City Project.

    Without the strict rule of law this city will end up being a disappointment because it is the same polities, their cronies, friend and families that will brake every zoning, planning code, building code, open space zoning as they have done in:

    1. Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Ikeja

    2. Abuja City

    3. Enugu GRA,Enugu Open spaces,

    4. Port Harcourt GRA ,etc

    5. Ontisha

    6. Aba

    We have succeeded in transforming our lush green neighbourhood’s into smelly concrete jungles, so I am afraid and building a new Lagos will not fix the old Lagos without obeying the rules that make a great cities what they are. The Indonesians tried to convert Batam which is across the Straits of Malacca to rival Singapore city and they soon found out that without the rule of law;

    “…In the 1980s Indonesia tried to mimic Singapore’s success and began to transform Batam, one of the Riau islands off Sumatra’s eastern coast, from a malaria-ridden fishing outpost into a tariff-free zone for entrepreneurs. Developers carved golf courses out of jungles and built casinos to lure tourists from Malaysia and Singapore. Investors backed factories and strip malls, office parks and apartment blocks.

    Indonesians flocked to boomtown Batam to find work. The island became a hub for maritime brokers, who hired sailors for shipping companies.Batam, however, lacked Singapore’s strict rule of law. Patronage and corruption took hold, and the island quickly became a haven for an exotic assortment of gangsters, smugglers, prostitutes, and pirates. Illegally harvested timber, embezzled diesel fuel, stolen cars, drugs, weapons, and poached animals moved through its ports…”(National Geographic Magazine)

    Thanks

    Ugo

  3. james george | Oct 30, 2007 | Reply

    the details of this project, while mind blowing, are ultimately disturbing. my fear is this want to be like the Western World, and the Arab Emirates. our civilization is, in its own right, ideal. we should, in the stead of copying others, mimic the highest ideal of our contemporary culture.
    secondly, in line with Omotaylor, I sincerely hope that the allocation of the contracts will be done to improve the lot of the average lagosian as against the typical elitism that is obtainable today.
    most importantly, i think the finer details of this project should be “thrown out”, competition wise, to young and aspiring Nigerian designers, so as to ensure that we get the most avant-garde, and indeed African Urbanism on the planet, done in Africa, for Africans by Africans… a place for all of us to call home. this is a unique opportunity for us Africans to dictate the ideals of our future… a future that has always been represented (for me) by Lagos.

  4. Gbenga Olaoye | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply

    I am one of many Nigerians based in the U.K. that will want to see a New Nigeria emerged. As much as this idea of a mega city is mind blowing and not new around the world, i will want to see Nigeria deal decisively with the problems of electricity and basic infractures. Otherwise, this project might once again be one of those elephant projects. Developed economies are currently tackling the problems of global warming by trying to reduce carbon emission, build greener houses and reduce energy cost. This is the right time for Nigeria to source other means of generating electricity. A good example of this could be Wind Powered Electricity other than reliance on ‘Hydro’ which has not given us much all these years. This project could be an eye opener to sourcing alternative energy and thereby join the rest of the world and contribute our quota towards achieving a greener environment. This can only happen by focussing on continuous improvement. The downside of this is that more buildings, bigger houses will require more in terms of energy usage. I want to believe this has been well thought out.

  5. DAYO ABIODUN | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply

    Discussions above suggests an indepth scientific study of Lagos to be able to adequately predict its state in the nearest future. Studies such as a scientific approach to modelling expansion of Lagos city becomes inevitable.

  6. BRE | May 6, 2009 | Reply

    Heads Up Notice on Lagos, Africa’s Mega-City

    Slate.com published a special 5-part feature article back in March 2009 on Lagos that I thought you wouldn’t want to miss. Checkout ‘Lagos, Africa’s Mega City’ by Will Connors.

    http://www.slate.com/id/2214412/entry/2214413

    Building and growth in Africa’s Nr. 1 Mega City continues, with or without a plan.

  7. quadry | Aug 31, 2009 | Reply

    i love what dey are doing

  8. rasheed Osinowo | Jan 30, 2010 | Reply

    thanks for all these information we know that democracy is not the best government but in this our local one we say job well done to fashola. he has proof his worth in all aspects of the states administration. this is also be a lesson to all Nigerians that the PDP government has come to do nothing but to consume our wealth. it has done nothing good but the show off of power as it is said in their slogan. just name it which of the PDP governor ever done something like that of Lagos from Daniel to Akala and Oyinlola they all have nothing to show. i tell you if and only if Fashola can be there for life with this great improvement he has embark on.

  9. adedamola adeboyejo | Feb 20, 2010 | Reply

    it will be the very best of you and your administration only if can bring all what you mension or promised to pass although lagos state is an area of business growth and profitable trading or businesses took place, and according to mine own hypothesis, you are in the better position to make lagos acclamatise to europeans and neibouring countrys, because i do know that lagos will surely comeout with flying colours and by ur power we shall acheive our gaols {eko o ni baje} and name shall reign forever. acheive it.

  10. adedeji adebowale | Mar 6, 2010 | Reply

    God bless you for this wonderful vision you have to turn lagos from ramshackle view to a modern and mega city. Indeed, God bless you.

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