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
Rendition of Eko Boulevard in the Business District
Eko Atlantic logo
Motto(s): 
Live and Work
Eko Atlantic shown within the State of Lagos
Eko Atlantic shown within the State of Lagos
Eko Atlantic is located in Nigeria
Eko Atlantic
Eko Atlantic
Location of Eko Atlantic in Nigeria
Coordinates: 06°24′00″N 03°24′18″E
Country Nigeria
StateLagos State
LGA(s)Independent
Founded2003
Incorporated2014[1]
Government
 • City PlannerSouth Energyx Nigeria Limited
 • Chairman SENLDavid Frame
Area
 • Total25 km2 (10 sq mi)
 • Land10 km2 (4 sq mi)
 • Water15 km2 (6 sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT (UTC+1))
Area code010[2]
WebsiteEkoAtlantic.com
This project is currently under development

Its main objective is to reduce erosion, which includes future sea level rise and storm surges. On the Lagos Bar Beach, coastal erosion has long been an issue, happening at a rate of 30 m year in particular. Wave tides, littoral movements, and sediment characteristics are examples of natural causes.[5]

Around 1960, man began adding nourishments to the Bar Beach in an effort to stop the significant loss of beach width caused by erosion. Despite being fed with enormous amounts of material, the beach continued to erode. The city of Lagos's expanding population is another issue, as it increases the need for space for residential, commercial, and recreational activities. [6]

The private project developer South Energyx Nigeria Ltd. (SENL) has started the Eko Atlantic City Development Project to address this space shortage as well as the land loss caused by the erosion of the Bar Beach. This project involves reclaiming 9 km2 of ground in front of Bar Beach, just east of the East Mole. [7] A revetment with a length of around 8.4 km surrounds the newly recovered area to prevent erosion. Among other things, Royal Haskoning provides advisory services for Eko Atlantic City's marine construction.[8]

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.[9]

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)[10] 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.[11]

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.[9]

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,[12] a planned 8.5 km long barrier constructed primarily of rock and faced with concrete accropode armour.

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.[13][14][15]

Purpose

In addition to providing a state-of-the-art business district for West Africa, the City aims to restore land lost to coastal erosion over the past century, offer a long-term solution to the erosion problem along Lagos' coastline, shield Victoria Island from ocean surge, and create job opportunities. Seven kilometers of revetment will also be built.[16][17]The city will have its own bureaucracy and is regarded as a separate municipality. Additionally, it will have an offshore banking zone and permit investors to transfer money freely.[18]

Districts

When the city is finished, it will have 3,000 buildings and 400 000 homes for residential, business, financial, and tourist lodging purposes. [19] Ten districts will make up the city[20], including:

  • Business Districts
  • Harbour Lights
  • Marina Districts
  • Downtown
  • Eko Island
  • Avenues
  • Four Bridges
  • Eko Drive
  • East Side Marina and
  • Ocean Front. [21]

Milestones
Eko Atlantic (Lagos) Skyline
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.

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.[22][23]

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".[24]

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.[25][26][27][28] Eko Atlantic City has also secured an EDGE certification from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.[29]

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;[30] 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.[31][32][33]

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.[34] 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".[35] 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.[35]

See also

References
  1. "Registered Free Zones in Nigeria". 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.
  5. Ajibade, I. (2017). Can a future city enhance urban resilience and sustainability? A political ecology analysis of Eko Atlantic city, Nigeria. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 26, 85-92.
  6. Bentum, K. V., Hoyng, C. W., Van Ledden, M., Luijendijk, A. P., & Stive, M. J. F. (2012). The Lagos coast–Investigation of the long-term morphological impact of the Eko Atlantic City project.
  7. Bentum, K. V., Hoyng, C. W., Van Ledden, M., Luijendijk, A. P., & Stive, M. J. F. (2012). The Lagos coast–Investigation of the long-term morphological impact of the Eko Atlantic City project.
  8. Bentum, K. V., Hoyng, C. W., Van Ledden, M., Luijendijk, A. P., & Stive, M. J. F. (2012). The Lagos coast–Investigation of the long-term morphological impact of the Eko Atlantic City project.
  9. Dada, Akinpelu (17 March 2011). "'Eko Atlantic City Project has expanded Nigeria's territory – Fashola'". The Punch. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  10. "Eko Atlantic - About Us". Eko Atlantic. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  11. "ESTATE FOCUS: Eko Atlantic city, Lagos". sunnewsonline.
  12. "The History of The Great Wall of Lagos". Eko Atlantic.
  13. "Fashola Receives Clinton Award For Eko Atlantic City". AllAfrica.com. ThisDay. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  14. Akinola, Femi (19 December 2010). "A Fairy Tale, Dream Home for the Super-Rich". Sunday Trust. Abuja, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  15. 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)
  16. Olugboyega, O. (2016). Building Information Modelling-Based Projects in Nigeria Evidences from Eko Atlantic City. PM World Journal, 10, 1-14.
  17. Adelekan, I. (2012). Coastal Cities at Risk. Lagos City Report. Advanced institute in data for coastal cities at risk.
  18. Olugboyega, O. (2016). Building Information Modelling-Based Projects in Nigeria Evidences from Eko Atlantic City. PM World Journal, 10, 1-14.
  19. Olugboyega, O. (2016). Building Information Modelling-Based Projects in Nigeria Evidences from Eko Atlantic City. PM World Journal, 10, 1-14.
  20. Olugboyega, O. (2016). Building Information Modelling-Based Projects in Nigeria Evidences from Eko Atlantic City. PM World Journal, 10, 1-14.
  21. Olugboyega, O. (2016). Building Information Modelling-Based Projects in Nigeria Evidences from Eko Atlantic City. PM World Journal, 10, 1-14.
  22. Gboyega Akinsanmi (22 February 2013). "Clinton: Eko Atlantic City, Destination for Global Investment". Thisday. Leaders & Company. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  23. Oluwole Farotimi & Maduka Nweke (22 February 2013). "Jonathan, Clinton, Fashola tip Lagos as world tourists' destination". The Sun (Nigeria). The Sun Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  24. "Nigeria's Eko Atlantic open to first residents in 2016". This Is Africa. 10 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  25. "TIMELINE: From May 2018 to Oct 2020 — How Wizkid kept teasing 'Made In Lagos' album". TheCable Lifestyle. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  26. "Davido announces a change of venue for his upcoming 'Davido Live' concert". Pulse Nigeria. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  27. "In Pictures: Pain and ecstasy at the Lagos marathon". BBC News. 3 February 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  28. "COPA Lagos… Evening of fun at Eko Atlantic". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 17 December 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  29. "Eko Atlantic secures first IFC EDGE certification". Vanguard News. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  30. Okenwa, Stan (6 February 2012). "Fear Grips Eko City as Lekki Residents Experience Sea Rise". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  31. Njoku, Jude (25 January 2012). "Raging Controversy Over City in Atlantic Ocean". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  32. Iroegbu-Chikezie, Okwy (31 January 2012). "Experts' endorsement for Eko Atlantic city". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  33. 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.
  34. Ezeobi, Chiemelie (19 August 2012). "Lagos Ocean Surge Levels Kuramo Beach". AllAfrica.com. ThisDay. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  35. "PDP blames sand filling for ocean surge". The Punch. Lagos, Nigeria. 22 August 2012. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.

Further reading

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