Civic Centre, Victoria Island

Victoria Island (VI) is an affluent area that encompasses a former island of the same name neighbouring Lagos Island, Ikoyi and the Lekki Peninsula by the Lagos Lagoon. It is the main business and financial centre of Lagos State, Nigeria. Victoria Island is one of the most exclusive and expensive areas to reside in Lagos. The town and island lie within the boundaries of the Eti-Osa Local Government Area (LGA).[1][2]

History

A large part of the Island was originally part of jurisdiction of the Oniru chieftaincy family of Lagos with tenants inhabiting the land. In 1948, the Lagos Executive Development Board paid 250,000 pounds as compensation for the land acquired from the Oniru family and an additional 150,000 pounds as compensation for the inhabitants and shrines destroyed. The inhabitants were later resettled at Maroko village. Victoria Island was originally surrounded entirely by water. It was bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the south, the mouth of the Lagos Lagoon on the West, the Five Cowrie Creek to the North, and swamps on the East. The colonial government began the process of filling in the eastern swamps to reduce mosquito breeding areas. This created a land bridge between Victoria Island and Lekki Peninsula ending its existence as a true island.[3]

After independence, successive state governments expanded this development, culminating in the construction of a highway connecting Victoria Island to Epe. This activity, along with the rapid commercialization of Victoria Island, served to stimulate residential development along the Lekki-Epe corridor, starting with Lekki Phase 1. The area of the land bridge, composed of the former swampland, became a large slum called Maroko Town which housed many of the new migrants to Lagos State. Residents of the Island complained about this problem, leading the military Governor of the State, Raji Rasaki, to forcibly remove the residents on 14 July 1990, resulting in numerous injuries. Governor Rasaki and his armed security forces caused the eviction of as many as 300,000 residents, some of whom had legal title to their property.[4]

This new area established after the evictions was called Victoria Island Annex. It was cleared and sold to residential buyers.

Subsequent reclamation expanded the area to the extent that Victoria Island Annex is now connected to the Lekki Peninsula. This new, enlarged area is referred to as "Oniru Estate" after the ruling family of the area.

Originally designated an upscale residential area, failing infrastructure and overcrowding in the old business district on Lagos Island and lax zoning enforcement in Victoria Island led to a mass migration of businesses over the last twenty-five years. Today, Victoria Island is one of Nigeria's busiest centres of banking and commerce, with most major Nigerian and international corporations headquartered on the Island.

The Island has continued to rapidly develop and along with Ikoyi, is a favourite spot for Nigerians and foreigners to live and play.

However, the influx of banks and other commercial ventures has changed the formerly serene atmosphere of the Island. Longtime residents complain about the increase in traffic and influx of street traders who cater to local bank employees and businessmen.[5]

A new project being developed by the Chagoury Group includes the Eko Atlantic City, located next to Victoria Island.[6][7] The project is being built on reclaimed land that has been lost to coastal erosion.[8][9]

Economy

The Access Bank tower, Victoria Island

Guaranty Trust Bank and Access Bank plc have their headquarters on the island, Halliburton and IBM operate offices on Victoria Island.[10][11][12]

Maroko Town demolition

The displaced former residents of Maroko Town have pursued redress within the Nigerian justice system, without success. In 2008, a human rights organization, Social and Economic Rights Action Centre (SERAC), filed a complaint with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights on behalf of the Moroko people.[13]

Activists and displaced Maroko residents continue to hold Maroko Remembrance Day each year on 14 July.[14]

Diplomatic missions

Victoria Island hosts most of the diplomatic presence in Lagos, many of which were previously the embassies to Nigeria prior to the move of the capital to Abuja. The now consulates, embassy branch offices, or Deputy High Commissions on Victoria Island include Benin, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Education

The British International School Lagos,[15] and the Lycée Français Louis Pasteur de Lagos are on Victoria Island.[16] Also located on Victoria Island is the American International School of Lagos,[17]

Famous residents

References

  1. ↑ "Victoria Island". Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Victoria Island, Nigeria | Cummins Africa". africa.cummins.com. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  3. ↑ Grenzebach, Klaus (1978). "THE STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF GREATER LAGOS: A Documentation in Aerial Photographs". GeoJournal. 2 (4): 295–309. doi:10.1007/BF00219280. JSTOR 41142117. S2CID 153350955.
  4. ↑ Tunde Agbola and A.M. Jinadu. "Forced eviction and forced relocation in Nigeria: the experience of those evicted from Maroko in 1990" (PDF). Sagepub.com. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "VI: Tale of a deserted island". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "Corporate Nigeria 2010/2011 – in Focus: Eko Atlantic – in Focus: Eko …". Archived from the original on 24 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Daily Independent". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  8. ↑ "YouTube". Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2017 – via YouTube.
  9. ↑ "Eko Atlantic City: How feasible?". Ddhmag.com. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  10. ↑ "Corporate Address". Guaranty Trust Bank. Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  11. ↑ "Office Location". Halliburton. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
  12. ↑ "IBM Nigeria". IBM. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  13. ↑ "SERAC files Maroko Communication before the African Commission". Social and Economic Rights Action Centre. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "Maroko Town Demolition". Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  15. ↑ "Contact Us." British International School Lagos. Retrieved on 1 May 2015. "1 Landbridge Avenue Oniru Private Estate P.O. Box 75133 Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria"
  16. ↑ "Informations légales Archived 26 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine." Lycée Français Louis Pasteur de Lagos. Retrieved on 18 January 2015. "16, Younis Bashorun street, Victoria Island Annex, P. O. BOX 72172, Lagos (Nigeria) "
  17. ↑ " AIS Lagos Contact Us." American International School of Lagos. Retrieved on 28 May 2020. "Federal Estates, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria"
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