Excellent idea…but the manner of its execution will prove if it’s realizable…by Nigerian standard and capability, that is.
The project in summary (pooled from BusinessDay):
The project, which will be bigger than the current size of Victoria Island, is to be developed by the Chagoury Group…
The development would incorporate central waterway of 30- metre wide to provide water transport facilities connecting the marinas. Other facilities will include an international standard road network, surface drainage, dedicated electrical power generation plant with underground distribution, water supply, treatment and distribution mains, sewage collection mains with a modern treatment plant, a network of service ducts to provide IT services as well as post- construction maintenance and management facilities…
The overall concept of the Atlantic City is to restore the land lost to coastal erosion since 1905 as well as provide permanent solution to the erosion. The development targets over 25,000 residents, and 200,000 commuters flowing daily to the Island to work. “All- in –all, this does not represent more than 3 percent of Lagos’s current population.†…
Land for the development of the city would be reclaimed in a seabed dredging from the Atlantic Ocean in an environment-friendly process without leaving an impact on the marine life.
Is it the same country that can’t move heavy equipments it bought for billions of dollars that is about to embark of a project of this magnitude?
Is it the same nation where the multi-billion $ TINAPA project now lies fallow that will wrestle with the raging waves of the Atlantic ocean and turn water to land?
Is it the same Lagos that has no workable solutions for the area-boy menace that now wants to create a city on the ocean?
‘Abi no be’ the same Lagos where idle legislators are busy shouting “obama, Obama” when they could have devoted their time and energy on crafting practical policies to fix flooding and sanitation problems in their consituencies?
I can go on…
Why can’t we learn to do the basic things first in Nigeria, and learn it well before ….?????
April 3, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Curiously, is it the returnee Chagourys’ we are talking about here???
April 4, 2008 at 7:10 am
Gbenga: LOL! Yes, it’s the same country we’re talking about. Nigeria is a land that has failed to deal with reality.
NW- Chagoury is back; well they never left really!
April 4, 2008 at 9:49 am
It seems like every state wants to embark on their own mini Dubai project. What is it with this obsession? Kano has a free trade zone, Lagos does as well and more states have followed suit. Beside designating an area “free trade zone” these states have done little else to attract foreign investment. Basic infrastructure is desperately missing but somehow we want to jump the gun and build malls and mansions.
We do things so backwards, it is astounding. “Oh look, Dubai is building cities on water, they are making mad money. Let’s do that too!!” All the problems that plague Lagos are disregarded as if they will magically disappear once this project comes to fruition.
Tinapa had such high hopes yet it is there uninhabited. No one has learned from that, no one is looking to see why that failed. We are just blindly going on. Is anyone still trying to get the government to open the place up? Why the ban in the first place? The way I heard it, officials were bribed to keep the place shut. But who knows the truth anymore? If something that would have encouraged trade and tourism, created numerous jobs and advanced our standard of living can be shut down by its own people like that for, something is seriously wrong with us.
I’m sorry if I am rambling, but sometimes the things we do in Naija just frustrates me to no end. This is just a lot of my frustration coming out.
Thanks for blogging, it gives us a place to discuss these issues.
April 4, 2008 at 1:53 pm
You’re not rambling Alan. I and several Nigerian bloggers share your concern. It appears every new administration is interested only in starting new ventures/programs and not interested in addressing any existing problems or improving upon what their predecessors started.
April 5, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I read the comments and of course agree with most. Nevertheless, I maintain that Fashola is working hard to turn things around in Lagos state and there are evidences to confirm this. But wow the people will need to change their mindsets for they seem to know nothing except frustrate the efforts of the Governor. Fashola must be determined and resilient and make sure all these mini projects, e.g transportation, pulling down illegal structures, etc are followed through. In the meantime, Goveror Fashola should listen to the voice of reason from the people. First things first…
April 16, 2008 at 8:02 pm