Lagos state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, this morning, commissioned the second phase of the restoration of the Lagos Bar beach.
Speaking at the event, Fashola said the second phase included extending the beach shoreline by 500 metres. The first phase of the protection work, which was commissioned in April 2007, was 1,000 metres. The work extended along the beach front, commencing just beyond the IMB building in a western direction and terminating at the Akwa Ibom state liaison office complex.
The governor said other areas that were not protected during the first phase of the project were eroded when a violent storm hit Victoria Island, two years ago.
“It was at this point that we came to the realisation that there was need to extend the system by 500 metres, from where it was stopped; that is, a few metres after Ademola Adetokunbo Street junction.
“Furthermore, the turning of the sod of the Eko Atlantic City project in April 2008, was a classical example of the government policy thrust of fast-tracking infrastructure development of the state through public-private partnership participation”.
Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, who was also at the event, said the extension of the beach by 500 metres would lead to the commencement of work on the Eko Atlantic City.
The project is the first phase of the series of innovations that would permanently arrest the ocean surge. It would also bring back the glory of the Lagos Bar beach as a tourist haven. Ultimately the shoreline would be pushed back to a distance of about 1.5km away from the present location and at the end of the day, culminate in the Eko Atlantic City, a city almost one and a half times the size of the present Victoria Island.
