Apart from the fact that Eko Atlantic city was conceived to add a new vista to the city of Lagos, the business potential of the project cannot be overestimated. The strategic location of the project, despite its appeal to lovers of aquatic nature, is also capable of alluring those who value tourism splendours.Traffic to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by most businessmen and businesswomen across the globe was made possible by the type of environment and infrastructure-cum-security made available by the Dubai government.
But with the purposeful leadership currently in place in Lagos, Eko Atlantic city is in position to provide a more serene environment that may rival, or put succinctly, surpass whatever Dubai can presently boast.
The concept of this project is to restore land lost to coastal erosion that has affected the ocean since the late 1950s and to provide a permanent solution to the erosion by providing a robust sea wall, or revetment, along the newly reconstructed coastline. It is also a creation of a new city in the Atlantic. The targeted residents for the city are about 250,000 people while 150,000 commuters are expected to flow daily to the city to work. The total length of the development is 7500m along the Atlantic with an average width of 1260m.
Incorporated in the development will be a central waterway, 30m wide, providing water transport facilities connecting the three marinas that will be created. The overall area to be reclaimed is approximately 1,037.763 hectares, with a significant portion already reclaimed.
To achieve international best practice, modern facilities were designed in the unique city: an international standard road network, coupled with surface water drainage, an electrical power generation plant and underground distribution. These facilities would eliminate the usual traffic congestion associated with mega-cities around the world: functional drainage and waste disposal system, security of lives and property, in addition to a world-class communication network.
Water supply treatment and distribution mains, including post-construction maintenance and management of the facilities, are to be put in place. The city will be maintained by private/public participation (PPP).
With this type of arrangement, the usual official bureaucracy, ineptitude and some untoward behaviour associated with civil service are eliminated. It would be recalled that since turning of the sod for Eko Atlantic city on April 18th 2008, reclamation work for the project and construction activities have taken place.
By Tunde Alao, The Guardian