Eko Atlantic

Eko Atlantic
City

Render: aerial view of the Business District
Eko Atlantic logo
Logo
Motto: Live and Work
Aerial photo of Eko Atlantic under construction
Aerial view of reclaimed land as of February 2015
Eko Atlantic location in Lagos, Nigeria
Eko Atlantic

Location of Eko Atlantic in Lagos, Nigeria

Coordinates: 6°25′06″N 3°25′03″E / 6.418333°N 3.417500°ECoordinates: 6°25′06″N 3°25′03″E / 6.418333°N 3.417500°E
Website EkoAtlantic.com

Eko Atlantic (also known as Eko Atlantic City or EAC) is a planned city of Lagos State, Nigeria, being constructed on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean.[1] It is located in Lagos’ Bar Beach. Upon completion, the new island which is still under development is anticipating 400,000 residents and a daily flow of 250,000 commuters. The development will also have a positive environmental impact; its purpose is to stop the erosion of the Lagos coastline.[2] The Eko Atlantic City project received global recognition in 2009, as the Lagos State government and its private sector partners on the Project, South Energyx, received the Clinton Global lnitiative Commitment Certificate.[3][4][5]

Adjacent to Victoria Island, Eko Atlantic will rise as the next generation of property in Africa. Expected to be around 4 square miles (10 km2), the city will satisfy needs for financial, commercial, residential and tourist accommodations with a state-of-the-art high-tech infrastructure in line with modern and environmental standards. These standards will offer the city’s residents modern water, waste management, security and transportation systems. Eko Atlantic will also have an independent source of energy generated specifically for the city.[6]

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.[2] 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.

Contractors are China Communications Construction Group, a global leader 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 surge, one in 120 years, one in 150 years and one in 1,000 years' storm, the worst storm that it is estimated can possibly happen in a thousand-year period.

Criticism

The Eko Atlantic project has been criticised by local residents living nearby, saying that ongoing construction works have caused coastal erosion and ocean surges;[7] 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 criticised for failing to involve the people in the project.[8][9][10]

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.[11] According to an environmental expert, "the ocean surge occurred 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".[12] The Lagos State chapter of the People's Democratic Party of Nigeria (PDP) issued an official statement, blaming the ACN 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.[12]

Milestones

Shoreline of Eko Atlantic under construction (2011)

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.[13][14]

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,”.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Elumoye, Deji (2007-09-26). "'Eko Atlantic city Underway'". Thisday (via allAfrica.com) (AllAfrica Global Media). Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dada, Akinpelu (2009-05-18). "'Construction work on Eko Atlantic city to commence soon'". The Punch. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  3. ↑ "Fashola Receives Clinton Award For Eko Atlantic City". AllAfrica.com (ThisDay). 29 September 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Akinola, Femi (19 December 2010). "A Fairy Tale, Dream Home for the Super-Rich". Sunday Trust (Abuja, Nigeria). Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  5. ↑ Ayeyemi, Dayo (24 January 2012). "Projects that will shape real estate sector in 2012". National Mirror. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Dada, Akinpelu (2011-03-17). "'Eko Atlantic City Project has expanded Nigeria’s territory – Fashola'". The Punch. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
  7. ↑ Okenwa, Stan (6 February 2012). "Fear Grips Eko City as Lekki Residents Experience Sea Rise". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  8. ↑ Njoku, Jude (25 January 2012). "Raging Controversy Over City in Atlantic Ocean". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  9. ↑ Iroegbu-Chikezie, Okwy (31 January 2012). "Experts’ endorsement for Eko Atlantic city". The Nation (Lagos, Nigeria). Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  10. ↑ Akinpelu, Dada (28 December 2009). "Eko Atlantic City: Daring the waves". The Punch (Lagos, Nigeria). Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  11. ↑ Ezeobi, Chiemelie (19 August 2012). "Lagos Ocean Surge Levels Kuramo Beach". AllAfrica.com (ThisDay). Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "PDP blames sand filling for ocean surge". The Punch (Lagos, Nigeria). 22 August 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  13. ↑ Gboyega Akinsanmi (22 February 2013). "Clinton: Eko Atlantic City, Destination for Global Investment". Thisday (Leaders & Company). Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  14. ↑ Oluwole Farotimi & Maduka Nweke (22 February 2013). "Jonathan, Clinton, Fashola tip Lagos as world tourists’ destination". The Sun (Nigeria) (The Sun Publishing Ltd). Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  15. ↑ "Nigeria’s Eko Atlantic open to first residents in 2016". This Is Africa. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.

Further reading

External links