LAGOS ISLAND REGENERATION: PLAN OVERVIEW, DIAGNOSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1.0 Introduction

Lagos Island is one of the three islands that form the core of Lagos Mega City. In addition, it is one of the oldest communities or precincts in the city. It plays host, too, to many government establishments, offices and businesses, monuments and historic residential communities. Lagos Island, It should be recalled, was once the Capital of Lagos State, up until 1975 when the Capital was moved to Ikeja. It was also the seat of power in Nigeria until 1991 when the Federal Capital moved to Abuja. That is, Lagos Island accommodated several State and Federal governments’ buildings and offices in the past, and these remain till date. Furthermore, Lagos Island is the main commercial district in Lagos State; drawing millions of people to itself on a daily basis. It is on record that an average of six million commuter’s transit from the Lagos Mainland to Lagos Island daily and an average of three million daily visitors commuting in the Island’s streets. As much as organized/formal sectors are well established in Lagos Island, operations of informal activities are high and obvious too. Many Nigerian banks have their headquarters on Lagos Island especially Marina, while countless numbers of retail markets, vendor stalls, roadside hawkers, etc. are visible within the Island’s precincts.

At present, Lagos Island is encountering numerous challenges – social, economic, environmental etc. The latest is the recurring incidence of fire disasters in the densely settled Island. Much of these can be traced to its history and development pattern, functions, densities Vis a vis its carrying capacity among other factors. The existing infrastructure networks seem to be obsolete while catering for the high population growth rate and high density and intensity of use. This manifests in several ways such as improper waste disposal into open canals and drainages, inhibiting the flow of storm water. These cause flash floods, pollution, and congestion. Other challenges include open defecation due to lack of public toilets, constant market fire outbreaks, absence of any enforcement or management of activities thereby increasing informality, lack of green open spaces, environmental degradation etc.

Health and security issues, congested roadways filled with old cars that emit high levels of CO2 emissions also manifest. These challenges and many others represent various aspects of vulnerability that require serious measures to alleviate.

If these challenges are not addressed now, the future of Lagos Island will be better imagined. For instance, studies by Dar (2022) show that by 2100, Lagos Island will be exposed to 2m water level rise in the lagoon. A 100 years tidal scenario conducted without applying any rainfall event on the Island indicate this. With its un-suitable water edge conditions and current drain systems, the Island looks vulnerable and unprepared. Furthermore, the non-availability of adequate land for expansion in the form of vacant plots has also reduced the ability of the communities’ future generation to expand, along with the ability of the island to accommodate any significant investment opportunity.

2.0 The Imperative for Regeneration

To tackle these problems, and forestall impending catastrophe, in 2021, the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development commissioned ‘Dar Group’ to prepare the Lagos Island Model City Plan. The idea behind the Model City Plan was to prepare a regeneration plan for Lagos Island.

With the plan already at the final stage, and its recent presentation to stakeholders’, this month’s virtual lecture will focus on the Plan. Therefore, the theme of this month’s lecture is “LAGOS ISLAND REGENERATION: PLAN OVERVIEW, DIAGNOSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS”.

This month’s virtual lecture series will give Town Planners the opportunity for an interrogation of the Plan. It will also help us understand the methodology for its preparation, discover the regeneration framework proposed, implementation strategy and most importantly, give Town Planners the room to make possible recommendations that could help improve the Plan.

3.0 Focus of Discussion

This edition of our monthly Virtual Lecture Series will aim to discuss the Regeneration option for Lagos Island. The Lagos Island Model City Plan under preparation will serve as the basis for discussion. It will discuss among others, germane issues such as:

• Summary of the existing situation;
• The vision, goals and objectives of the Plan;
• Plan methodology;
• Development framework;
• Regeneration strategies;
• Land use proposals;
• Infrastructure, facilities and community services proposals
• Implementation framework;
• Project proposals; and
• Funding framework etc.

4.0 Resource Persons

• Keynote Speech

Dr. Olajide Abiodun Babatunde – Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development

• Guest Speakers

1. Tpl. (Dr.) Adekunle Owolabi – Dar Group (Lead Presenter)
2. Tpl. Semiu Adesina Shobowale – Deputy Director, Regional and Master Plan Department, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development
3. Tpl. Lawal Lateef – Assistant Director, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency
4. Tpl. Lookman Oshodi, FNITP – Managing Director, Arctic Infrastructure Limited

• Moderator

TPl. Omobolanle Akinola – Chair, Strategy and Research Committee NITP-YPF

• Rapporteurs
  1. Tpl. James Adedini – Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu.
  2. Tpl. Roseline Abidemi Kosoko – Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu.

5.0 Schedule

Date: Tuesday, 28^th May, 2024

Tme: 10:00 AM Prompt

Mode: Virual (Z00m)