Eko Atlantic

Eko Atlantic, officially Nigeria International Commerce city, also known as Eko Atlantic City, or the initials E.A.C. and E.A., is a planned city of Lagos State, Nigeria, being constructed on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean.^[3] Upon completion, the new peninsula is anticipating at least 250,000 residents and a daily flow of 150,000 commuters. The development is also designed to help in stopping the erosion of Lagos city's coastline.^[4]

Eko Atlantic
City
Nigeria International Commerce city^[1]
Rendition of Eko Boulevard in the Business District
Motto(s):  Live and Work
Eko Atlantic shown within the State of Lagos
Eko Atlantic Location of Eko Atlantic in Nigeria
Coordinates: 06°24′00″N 03°24′18″E / 6.40000°N 3.40500°E / 6.40000; 3.40500Coordinates: 06°24′00″N 03°24′18″E / 6.40000°N 3.40500°E / 6.40000; 3.40500
Country	Nigeria
State	Lagos State
LGA(s)	Independent
Founded	2003
Incorporated	2014^[1]
Government
• City Planner	South Energyx Nigeria Limited
• Chairman SENL	David Frame
Area
• Total	25 km^2 (10 sq mi)
• Land	10 km^2 (4 sq mi)
• Water	15 km^2 (6 sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT (UTC+1))
Area code	010^[2]
Website	EkoAtlantic.com
This project is currently under development

The city adjoins Victoria Island district of Lagos city, and the Phase 1 area of Lekki to the north, while the entire Western, eastern and southern borders is a coastline. Eko Atlantic is expected to rise as the next generation of property on the African continent; having a total of 10 districts, spread across a land area of approximately 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi), the city will satisfy needs for financial, commercial, residential and tourist accommodations.^[5]

Eko Atlantic development is being carried out as a Public–private partnership (PPP)with private companies and investors providing the funding, whilst Lagos State Government(LASG) is a strategic partner, with the support of the Federal Government.(Nigeria Government)^[6] The Contractors are China Communications Construction Group LTD(CCCC), a company that works in the field of marine dredging and landfill operation. Consultants are Royal Haskoning (traffic and transport expertise) and ar+h Architects. South Energyx Nigeria Ltd., a subsidiary of the Chagoury group, was specifically created to undertake the development. Testing of the sea defence system took place at the DHI Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, where models were successfully tested for one-in-a-hundred-year ocean surges, and one-in-120-year, one-in-150-year and one-in-1,000-year storms.^{[citation needed]}

Overview

 

Masterplan of Eko Atlantic (2015 revision)

Eko Atlantic will satisfy needs for financial, commercial, residential and tourist accommodations, with infrastructure in line with modern and environmental standards[this document does not show which environmental standards are used neither if Eko Atlantic is in line with any environmental standard]. These standards will offer the city’s residents water, waste management, security and transportation systems. The city will also have an independent source of energy generated specifically for the city.^[5]

Eko Atlantic is situated on land reclaimed from erosion and is protected by a coastal revetment designed by Royal Haskoning colloquially known as the Great Wall of Lagos,^[7] a planned 8.5 km long barrier constructed primarily of rock and faced with concrete accropode armour.^{[citation needed]}

The Eko Atlantic City project received global attention in 2009, as the Lagos State Government and its private sector partners on the Project, South Energyx, received the Clinton Global Initiative Commitment Certificate.^[8][9][10]

Districts

Eko Atlantic is master-planned to contain seven districts which are as follows:^{[citation needed]}

• Harbour Lights
• Business District
• Marina
• Downtown
• Avenues
• Eko Drive
• Ocean Front

Milestones

 

A picture Eko Atlantic City's Skyline in 2020

As of May 2009, while the project was still in its dredging phase, about 3,000,000 cubic metres (3,900,000 cu yd) have been sand-filled and placed in the reclamation area, while about 35,000 tonnes of rock have been delivered to the site.^[4] In certain parts of Bar Beach, the land being reclaimed can already be seen. Dredgers are working around the clock to fill the site with sand.^{[citation needed]}

On 21 February 2013, a dedication ceremony was held at the reclaimed land of Eko Atlantic, with Goodluck Jonathan, Bill Clinton, Babatunde Fashola, Bola Tinubu, Aminu Tambuwal, and Ibikunle Amosun attending.^[11][12]

In March 2014, David Frame, managing director of South Energyx Nigeria Ltd., the firm responsible for the development, confirmed that "The first residential tower will open in 2016".^[13]

By November 2020, a few buildings most notably Eko Pearl Towers have been completed with several more under construction and at planning stages. The city has become an active venue for popular afro-concerts and sports events like the Lagos City Marathon and Copa Lagos.^{[14][15][16][17]} Eko Atlantic City has also secured an EDGE certification from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.^[18]

Controversy

 

Shoreline of Eko Atlantic under construction (2011)

The Eko Atlantic project has been criticized by local residents living nearby, saying that ongoing construction works have caused coastal erosion and ocean surges;^[19] as ocean water surges through living areas, flooding access roads and taking down electricity poles and forcing residents to relocate. The Lagos State Government is also being criticized for failing to involve the people in the project.^[20][21][22]

In August 2012, the Atlantic Ocean surged and overflowed its banks, sweeping 16 people into the Atlantic Ocean, killing several people and flooding Kuramo Beach, Victoria Island and other areas.^[23] According to an environmental expert, "the ocean surge occurred as a result of the failure of the contractors handling the sandfilling activities of the proposed Atlantic Ocean City, to put in place measure that would reduce the effect of the surge on the environment".^[24] The Lagos State chapter of the People's Democratic Party issued an official statement, blaming the ACN (now APC) -led state government's sand filling for the ocean surge. The party called for a stop to the Eko Atlantic project and immediate compensation to the bereaved families.^[24]

See also

• Eko Pearl Towers
• Centenary City
• Lekki

References

1. . NEPZA. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
2. Lizzie Williams (2008). Bradt Travel Guides (3rd ed.). Paperback. p. 87. ISBN 978-1-8416-2397-9. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
3. Elumoye, Deji (26 September 2007). "Eko Atlantic city Underway". Thisday (via allAfrica.com). AllAfrica Global Media. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
4. Dada, Akinpelu (18 May 2009). "Construction work on Eko Atlantic city to commence soon". The Punch. Retrieved 21 May 2009.^{[permanent dead link]}
5. Dada, Akinpelu (17 March 2011). "'Eko Atlantic City Project has expanded Nigeria's territory – Fashola'". The Punch. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
6. "Eko Atlantic - About Us". Eko Atlantic. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
7. "The History of The Great Wall of Lagos". Eko Atlantic.
8. "Fashola Receives Clinton Award For Eko Atlantic City". AllAfrica.com. ThisDay. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
9. Akinola, Femi (19 December 2010). . Sunday Trust. Abuja, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
10. Ayeyemi, Dayo (24 January 2012). "Projects that will shape real estate sector in 2012". National Mirror. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
11. Gboyega Akinsanmi (22 February 2013). . Thisday. Leaders & Company. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
12. Oluwole Farotimi & Maduka Nweke (22 February 2013). . The Sun (Nigeria). The Sun Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
13. . This Is Africa. 10 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
14. "TIMELINE: From May 2018 to Oct 2020 — How Wizkid kept teasing 'Made In Lagos' album". TheCable Lifestyle. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
15. "Davido announces a change of venue for his upcoming 'Davido Live' concert". Pulse Nigeria. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
16. "In Pictures: Pain and ecstasy at the Lagos marathon". BBC News. 3 February 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
17. "COPA Lagos… Evening of fun at Eko Atlantic". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 17 December 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
18. "Eko Atlantic secures first IFC EDGE certification". Vanguard News. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
19. Okenwa, Stan (6 February 2012). "Fear Grips Eko City as Lekki Residents Experience Sea Rise". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
20. Njoku, Jude (25 January 2012). "Raging Controversy Over City in Atlantic Ocean". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
21. Iroegbu-Chikezie, Okwy (31 January 2012). . The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
22. Akinpelu, Dada (28 December 2009). "Eko Atlantic City: Daring the waves". The Punch. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
23. Ezeobi, Chiemelie (19 August 2012). "Lagos Ocean Surge Levels Kuramo Beach". AllAfrica.com. ThisDay. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
24. . The Punch. Lagos, Nigeria. 22 August 2012. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.

Further reading

• Brown, Brad (5 June 2012). "Nigeria's most populous state poised to become a metropolis". South Florida Times. Florida United States. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
• Iroegbu-Chikezie, Okwy. "A city behind walls". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
• Akinsanmi, Gboyega (28 May 2012). . Thisday. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
• Tautou, Annabel (21 April 2012). . French Tribune. Bouches-du-Rhône, France. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
• Onyema, I. C. (18 September 2012). . Business Day. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
• New Yorker (magazine). 2013 article
• Wall Street Journal. 2013 article
• The Guardian (UK). 2014 article

External links

• Official website