Encomium
Despite criticisms from some quarters about its safety implications, the development of the multi-trillion 
naira Eko Atlantic City is steadily taking shape. The developer, South Energyx Nigeria Limited, along with the Lagos State government, on the one hand, and some residents and other stakeholders, on the other, have continually disagree on the future implications of the development for the people and property situated within the vicinity of the project.
The ambitious real estate project which commenced in 2006 is being developed on an expansive parcel of land reclaimed from the Lagos Bar Beach, and is expected to cover 10 square kilometres of land on completion, which is three times the size of Victoria Island. Checks have it that a plot of land, measuring 2,000 square metres, costs between N260 million and N490 million in the city. The cost of land depend on the location described as the future of Lagos. The promoters of the project recently allayed fears that the ongoing development is in compliance with regulations, insisting that the envisaged dangers have been taken care of.
Already, high rise buildings have started springing up in the city. One of such is reserved by Afren Plc as the company’s headquarters in Lagos. The international energy company that has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2005, operates in 11 countries and is producing over 22,000 barrels of oil per day with the bulk of activities in Nigeria. Construction of the 15 floor Afren Plc building is nearing completion with eight out of 15 floors to be completed by the end of 2014.
Another building that has been planted there is Eko Pearl Towers, a five tower luxury apartment project situated on the harbour front and developed by Eko Pearl Nigeria Limited in collaboration with ESLA International, one of the largest independent real estate developers in the Middle East. The foundations and concrete casting for basement parking is now complete, and work is underway on piling foundation for the tower.
In terms of infrastructure, the developers and planners of Eko Atlantic have completed the laying of underground pipes that will service the vital drainage and sewage network of the new city. Over five kilometres of trenches, four metres deep, have been dug to accommodate a matching length of concrete piping that is between 300mm to 1200mm in diametre. The pipes and connecting manholes manufactured on site are designed to handle water drainage from the road system.
The road network built with interlocking stones is 2.25 kilometres long comprising of a single carriageway that is 7.2 metres wide with two lanes. The new road will serve as one of three major boulevards in the business district.
Upon completion, Eko Atlantic City will cover seven districts Ocean Fronts, Harbour Lights, Business District, Eko Drive, Marina, Avenues and Downtown. The Business District will be spread across 1.3 million square metres of land dedicated to providing West Africa with a world class commercial hub. Lying in the heart of the Business District would be the Eko Atlantic Financial Centre. The centre is expected to house corporate headquarters of banks, insurance companies and market leaders in the oil and gas sector. It will also have facilities for a stock exchange, convention centre, auditorium and hotels. Round the clock power generating plant is also in the bargain. There will be a light rail system with 60 stops throughout the city, canals for light ferry services and traffic flow. Every building must have basement parking spaces for its occupants and visitors. A network of fibre optic cables will connect state-of-the-art telecommunications, while an internal citywide waterway will be linked to three marinas. And to prevent the incidence of building collapse, which is prevalent in most cities around the country, the developers created specialised planning and streamlined an approval process to ensure the quality of construction and the integrity of each development.
To protect the new city against surges, the developers have built a sea barrier which it fondly refers to as the Great Wall of Lagos. The 6.5 kilometre long wall was designed by Royal Haskoning and tested in Denmark by the world-renowned Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI). It is said the barrier can withstand the worst storm imaginable in a thousand years.
Marc Chaghouri, one of the officials of the developing company, disclosed that the concept of Eko Atlantic City is to create a city of international standard,
“The city will provide world-class property in a world-class environment, where people can live and work in harmony”.
-FOLUSO SAMUEL
