Banana Island

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Banana Island
Neighborhood
Location map Nigeria Lagos.png
Red pog.svg
Banana Island
Location in Lagos
Coordinates: 6°28′N3°27′E / 6.467°N 3.450°E / 6.467; 3.450 Coordinates: 6°28′N3°27′E / 6.467°N 3.450°E / 6.467; 3.450
Country Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
State Lagos State
City Lagos
LGA Eti-Osa
Neighbourhood Ikoyi
Time zone UTC+1 (WAT)
Lagoon City-Twin Towers - Adeleke/Yamasaki Lagoon City World Trade Centre.jpg
Lagoon City-Twin Towers - Adeleke/Yamasaki
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Lagoon City - Aerial Shots
Lagoon City - Project Participants - Adeleke/Yamasaki Lagoon City Project Participants.jpg
Lagoon City - Project Participants - Adeleke/Yamasaki
Lagoon City - Acceptance Letter Page_1 Lagoon City - Acceptance Letter 1.jpg
Lagoon City - Acceptance Letter Page_1
Lagoon City - Acceptance Letter Page_2 Lagoon City Acceptance Letter Page2.jpg
Lagoon City - Acceptance Letter Page_2
Lagoon City - Architectural Plans Lagoon City - Architectural Image 1.jpg
Lagoon City - Architectural Plans
Lagoon City - Ambience View Lagoon City Architectural Image 2.jpg
Lagoon City - Ambience View
Lagoon City - Lagoon Side View Lagoon City Lagoon View.jpg
Lagoon City - Lagoon Side View

Banana Island is an artificial island off the foreshore of Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.

Ikoyi Neighborhood in Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

Ikoyi is the most affluent neighborhood of Lagos, located in Eti-Osa Local Government Area. It lies to the northeast of Obalende and adjoins Lagos Island to the west, and at the edge of the Lagos Lagoon. Popular with the extreme upper class residents of Nigerian society, Ikoyi is arguably the wealthiest community within Nigeria.

Lagos Metropolis in Nigeria

Lagos is a city in the Nigerian state of the same name. The city, with its adjoining conurbation, is the most populous in Nigeria and on the African continent. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and one of the most populous urban areas. Lagos is a major financial centre in Africa; the megacity has the fourth-highest GDP in Africa and houses one of the largest and busiest seaports on the continent.

Nigeria Federal republic in West Africa

Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa, bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west. Its coast in the south is located on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. The federation comprises 36 states and 1 Federal Capital Territory, where the capital, Abuja, is located. The constitution defines Nigeria as a democratic secular state.

Contents

Architectural history

The original Banana Island construction project entitled Lagoon City was the brainchild of the Late Chief Adebayo Adeleke, a University of London trained Civil Engineer (MICE), and CEO of City Property Development Ltd.

Adeleke had originally commissioned a new urban development in Maroko, Victoria Island, but that project had been acquired by the Lagos State government. Following a lengthy 10 year court case, Lagos State government offered other parcels of land as consideration for the Maroko development.

Adeleke then engaged the Westminster Dredging Company to dredge the foreshore, and create six interlinked and symmetrical islands.

He wanted to create a development that would "Make Nigeria Proud", and engaged Minoru Yamasaki the architect of Manhattan's Twin Towers, to design replica twin towers as the flagship iconic buildings on the main island.

Minoru Yamasaki American architect

Minoru Yamasaki was an American architect, best known for designing the original World Trade Center in New York City and several other large-scale projects. Yamasaki was one of the most prominent architects of the 20th century. He and fellow architect Edward Durell Stone are generally considered to be the two master practitioners of "New Formalism".

To complete the Lagoon City concept, Adeleke planned an aesthetic design including a city airport, which was a vision conceived long before the London Docklands Development, London City Airport, Dubai's Palm Islands or Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok Airport.

London Docklands area in east and southeast London

London Docklands is the riverfront and former docks in London. In east and southeast London, it forms part of the boroughs of Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Newham, and Greenwich. The docks were formerly part of the Port of London, at one time the world's largest port. Following the closure of the docks, the area became derelict and poverty-ridden by the 1980s. The Docklands' regeneration began later that decade; it has been redeveloped principally for commercial and residential use. The name "London Docklands" was used for the first time in a government report on redevelopment plans in 1971 and has since become virtually universally adopted. The redevelopment created wealth, but also led to conflict between the new and old communities in the areas thus designated.

London City Airport international airport in London, England

London City Airport is an international airport in London, England. It is located in the Royal Docks in the London Borough of Newham, approximately 6 NM east of the City of London and a shorter distance east of Canary Wharf. These are the twin centres of London's financial industry, which is a major user of the airport. The airport was developed by the engineering company Mowlem in 1986–87. In 2016 it was bought by a Canadian-led consortium of Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), OMERS, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Wren House Infrastructure Management of the Kuwait Investment Authority.

Palm Islands artificial islands in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Palm Islands are three artificial islands, Palm Jumeirah, Deira Island and Palm Jebel Ali, on the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Creation of the islands started in 2001. Only Palm Jumeirah has been completed. This island takes the form of a palm tree, topped by a crescent.

Soon thereafter, the project was acquired again with no consideration being paid to City Property Development Limited. The acquisition is currently being challenged in various courts, and there are Caveat Emptor warnings in place to warn prospective buyers that their investment could be at risk in future. There is also litigation pending in the UK and European courts regarding this matter.

The subsequent developers were principally interested in maximising the yield of the land. Consequently, the land was filled in to create a banana shaped island, which is now a residential scheme rather than the commercial development originally envisaged.

Banana Island, is an area of Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, 8.6 kilometres east of Tafawa Balewa Square. Part of the Lagos Local Government Area of Eti-Osa in Central Lagos, it is known for its wealthy, multi-cultural community and has some of the most expensive real estate in Nigeria. [1] Banana Island has one of the highest density of millionaires within its boundaries. [2]

Eti-Osa LGA in Lagos State, Nigeria

Eti-Osa is a Local Government Area of Lagos State in Nigeria. Lagos State Government administers the council area as Ikoyi-Obalande LCDA, Eti-Osa East LCDA, and Iru Victoria Island LCDA. Within Eti-Osa are several important areas of Lagos State, including Lagos' Victoria Island. Before the Nigerian capital moved to Abuja, Eti-Osa Local Government Area served alongside Lagos Island Local Government Area as the seat of the national capital.

Design

Panoramic view of Banana Island taken from the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge. Banana Island Lagos.jpg
Panoramic view of Banana Island taken from the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.

Banana Island is a man-made island in Lagos State, Nigeria that is slightly curved in shape – like a banana. It is located in the Lagos Lagoon and is connected to Ikoyi Island by a dedicated road which is linked to the existing road network near Parkview Estate. The island was constructed by the Lebanese-Nigerian Chagoury Group in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing [3] [4] and is considered to be on par with the Seventh Arrondissement in Paris, La Jolla in San Diego, and Tokyo's Shibuya and Roppongi neighbourhoods. [2]

It occupies a sand-filled area of approximately 1,630,000 square metres and is divided into 536 plots (of between 1000 and 4000 square metres in size) mainly arranged along cul-de-sacs, so designed to enhance the historically residential nature of Ikoyi. Residents are provided with world class utilities including underground electrical systems (versus the overhead cabling common throughout Lagos), an underground water supply network, a central sewage system and treatment plant, and street lighting and satellite telecommunications networks. [5]

The Island is a planned, mixed development with dedicated areas for residential, commercial and recreational activities. On the residential side of the Island, planning permission is not granted for dwellings over 3 storeys high. The developers also intend to develop a main piazza, a club-house, a primary and secondary school, a fire and police station and a medical clinic. They are also negotiating to build a 5-star hotel on the island, along with an array of smaller Guest Houses.

Composition

Banana Island hosts several high end residential developments such as Ocean Parade Towers [6] - a series of 14 luxury tower blocks strategically situated at one end of the island to take advantage of 180 degree panoramic views overlooking the lagoon. Similar to many of the developments on the island, it has dedicated leisure facilities such as a private health club - with tennis courts, squash courts and a swimming pool surrounded by extensive gardens. [7] At launch flats in Ocean Parade sold for over US$400,000. [8]

Several leading Nigerian and International corporates such as - Etisalat Nigeria, [9] Airtel Nigeria, [10] Ford Foundation Nigeria [11] and Olaniwun Ajayi & Co [12] - are also based on Banana Island.

Notable residents

Related Research Articles

Lagos State State of Nigeria

Lagos, sometimes referred to as Lagos State to distinguish it from Lagos Metropolitan Area, is a state in the southwestern geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The smallest in area of Nigeria's 36 states, Lagos State is arguably the most economically important state of the country, containing Lagos, the nation's largest urban area. It is a major financial centre and would be the fifth largest economy in Africa, if it were a country.

Victoria Island, Lagos island in Nigeria

Victoria Island (VI) is an affluent area that encompasses a former island of the same name neighbouring Lagos Island, Ikoyi and the Lekki Peninsula by the Lagos Lagoon. It is the main business and financial centre of Lagos in Lagos State, Nigeria. Victoria Island is one of the most exclusive and expensive areas to reside in Lagos. The town and island lie within the boundaries of the Eti-Osa Local Government Area (LGA).

Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro is a Nigerian politician. He served as Senator for Lagos State from 2003–2007, and was later appointed High Commissioner to Ghana. He served as the Minister of State for Defence during 2014.

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Chagoury Group is a Nigerian multinational business conglomerate headquartered in Lagos, Lagos. Founded in 1971 by Gilbert R. Chagoury and Ronald Chagoury, their businesses include construction and property development, flour mills, water bottling and purification, glass manufacturing, insurance, hotels, furniture manufacturing, telecommunications, transportation, IT, catering and international financing.

Maroko was a community in Eti-Osa, Lagos State, Nigeria. It was adjacent to Ikoyi and east of Victoria Island. It was a low-income area that attracted a lot of migrants since it was in close proximity to economically robust areas. Flooding and sand-filling affected Maroko during its life.

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Parkview Estate is a luxurious suburb of Ikoyi in Lagos. It is bordered by Gerrard Road and Banana Island. The estate is majorly residential. However, some private firms have offices and guest houses in the estate.

Shakirudeen "Sola" Giwa is a Nigerian politician and lawmaker in the 8th Lagos State House of Assembly Inaugurated on June 8, 2015.

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References

  1. ↑ "Houses more expensive on Banana Island than London". Punchng.com. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 "The Most Expensive Neighborhood In Nigeria". Forbes. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "The Chagoury Group Construction Division - Projects". Chagouryconstruction.com. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "Home | Thisday Live". Thisdayonline.com. Retrieved 21 June 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. ↑ Archived 14 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "Ocean Parade". Chagourygroup.com. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Ocean Parade Tower – Banana Island – Ikoyi Lagos - I.T.B. Nigeria Limited". Itbng.com. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "Buyers jostle for N4.5b Ocean Parade Towers flats - Proshare". Proshareng.com. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  9. ↑ Archived 9 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ "Airtel Nigeria || Home". Airtel.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  11. ↑ "West Africa / Regions / Ford Foundation". Fordfoundation.org. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "Olaniwun Ajayi LP". Olaniwunajayi.net. 13 May 2014. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Conoil PLC". Conoilplc.com. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
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