Considered the largest in the world, construction work on The new US Consulate General began recently at Eko Atlantic City in Lagos. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was accompanied by US Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard and US Consul General Claire Pierangelo, attended an amazing ground-breaking ceremony for the project, which is anticipated to cost $537 million.
The new US Consulate General in Lagos, which will be constructed on a 12.2-acre site in the rapidly developing Eko Atlantic City, will support diplomatic and commercial relations between the US and Nigeria while also providing a safe, secure, sustainable, and modern workplace for American and Nigerian Consulate employees.
With a completion date of 2027, the design architect is New York-based Ennead Architects LLP, the design/build contractor in Lombard, Illinois-based Pernix Federal, LLC, and the architect of record is Albany-based EYP, Inc.
According to a statement released following the event by the Public Affairs Section of the new US Consulate General in Victoria Island, Lagos, it is expected that when the project is finished, it will be the world’s biggest US Consulate, highlighting the importance of the relationship between the United States and Nigeria.
The new consulate would directly benefit Nigerians, and an estimated $95 million would be invested in the local economy over the course of the project, which would employ roughly 2,500 Nigerians, including engineers, architects, artisans, administrative personnel, and construction workers. Such individuals will have an opportunity to acquire new technical skills and safety awareness that will make them stand out in the local job market.
It is expected that the new consulate would be a sophisticated location with better public-facing interview and waiting facilities for Africa’s largest consular operations. The construction project aims for LEED Silver Certification, which is a globally recognized designation for high-performance, perfect green buildings, and includes various measures that make the building more sustainable.
The relationship between the United States and Nigeria
On the occasion, Leonard thanked the federal government and the Lagos State government for their support. She added that their objective for the consulate campus was to establish a facility that honored the vibrant relationship between the United States and Nigeria while also communicating the spirit of American democracy, openness, and transparency.
According to Pierangelo, Nigeria and the United States have had a long history of people-to-people interactions that have contributed to building bridges between the two countries. Pierangelo also stated that they were looking forward to many milestones the two nations would achieve together in the future.
Project overview
Eko Atlantic City is a Nigerian International Commerce city, also referred as Eko Atlantic in Lagos State, Nigeria, being developed on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean. After completion, the new peninsula will accommodate at least 250,000 people and 150,000 daily commuters flow. The scheme is also designed to help in stopping Lagos city’s coastline erosion.
The development borders the Victoria Island district of Lagos city, and the Phase 1 side of Lekki to the north, while the rest of the Western, eastern, and southern borders are a coastline. Eko Atlantic City is designed to grow as the next generation of property in Africa with a total of 10 districts, spread all over approximately 10 square kilometers (3.9 sq mi) land area. It is set to fulfill the needs for residential, commercial, financial, and tourist accommodations.
The development.
Eko Atlantic City development is being delivered on a Public-private partnership, with private companies and investors providing the funding, with the Lagos State Government acting as a strategic partner, supported by the Federal Government. The scheme’s contractors are the China Communications Construction Group, a company working in the marine dredging and landfill operation field. Consultants are the transport and traffic experts Royal Haskoning and ar+h Architects. The Chagoury Group subsidiary, South Energyx Nigeria Ltd was purposely created to undertake the development. The sea defense system testing took place at the DHI Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark. The models were tested successfully for one-in-a-hundred-year ocean surges, one-in-120-year, one-in-150-year, and one-in-1,000-year storms.
Eko Atlantic City is located on erosion reclaimed and protected by a coastal revetment referred to as the Great Wall of Lagos. The revetment designed by Royal Haskoning colloquially is an 8.5 km long barrier built primarily of rock and sealed with concrete accropode armour.
Reported earlier
2009
The Eko Atlantic City project received global attention when its private sector partners on the Project, South Energyx, and the Lagos State Government received the Clinton Global Initiative Commitment Certificate. While the scheme was still in its dredging phase, around 3,000,000 cubic meters (3,900,000 cu yd) had been sand-filled and placed in the reclamation area and around 35,000 tonnes of rock were transported to the site. In some areas of Bar Beach, the land being reclaimed could already be seen. Dredgers were working around the clock to sand-fill the site.
2013
On 21 February, at the reclaimed land, a dedication ceremony was held hosting Goodluck Jonathan, Bill Clinton, Babatunde Fashola, Bola Tinubu, Aminu Tambuwal, and Ibikunle Amosun.
2014
In March, the firm responsible for the development, South Energy Nigeria through its managing director, David Frame revealed that “The first residential tower will open in 2016.”
April 2015
Nigeria: Eko Atlantic City’s phase I development plan is launched
South Energyx Nigeria Ltd, the developer, and city planner company for Eko Atlantic City has unveiled the development plan for the first phase of the city development.
Among the buildings to be constructed in Phase, I of Eko Atlantic City include a 26-story building development that will bear the name of Azuri Peninsula. The Azuri Peninsula will have 120 luxury apartments. The development will also comprise a five-star Marina and yacht club with an attractive walkway, high-end shops, cafes, and a wealth of amenities in a curated and sophisticated environment.
A subsidiary of South Energyx, Eko Development Company Ltd, will be supervising the Azuri Peninsula project among other building development initiatives. The first phase of the Eko Atlantic City will also come with a Marina front.
According to the South Energyx, media specialist Ibiene Ogolo, the project will offer an exclusive and lavish urban lifestyle by the amusing Marina-front of the Marina District in the vibrant new Eko Atlantic City.
South Energyx Nigeria Limited media specialist Ms. Ibiene Ogolo has said the architecture will be provided the award-winning global design from the Gensler firm, and will provide the most favorable place to live, work, play and invest.
The country has also started construction of the Centenary City, a project set to take 10 years and cost U.S$180.6bn.
Jul 2015
Management resolved staff unrest at the Eko Atlantic City project in Nigeria
The South Energyx Nigeria Limited management is in the process of resolving the disputes that led to its workers staging a protest in Lagos on Wednesday. South Energyx is the Corporation constructing the iconic Eko Atlantic City of the bar beach coast of the Atlantic Ocean in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The company said it had begun a complete resolution of all the issues, but that management wishes to refute the false allegations. The Director of South Energyx, Mr. David Frame, addressed the protesting staff at the Eko Atlantic City site and requested the workers to bring their issues to the table for a peaceful resolution.
Developers South Energvx Eko Atlantic prides its staff as its greatest asset and reiterates the fact that as a leading global brand in real estate, it cannot but stick to best practices in line with labor laws. The organization of Eko Atlantic City is investigating claims made and discussions are ongoing to ensure a mutually beneficial resolution is arrived at.
The statement said that we regret any trouble the turbulence may have caused to motorists and businesses in the surrounding area. The workers of the company, who demanded better conditions in their place of work had embarked on a peaceful demonstration on that Wednesday, blocking its gates and disrupting traffic on Ahmadu Bello Way.
Jun 2017
Eko Atlantic Hotels to open in new Nigerian city
A new swathe of reclaimed land from the Atlantic Ocean and close to Victoria Island in Lagos, Nigeria, will be home to a series of new hotels that will form part of the Eko Atlantic development.
Billed as the “new economic capital of Africa”, Eko Atlantic will contribute 10 million square meters of new residential, commercial, retail, and recreational space to the Nigerian capital. The new-build city will rival similar cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi and will be one of the most vibrant and desirable locations in East Africa.
Structurally sound and sustainably engineered, the abounding wall, known as the Great Wall of Lagos, will separate the new city from the sea beyond, and a 24/7 power supply will facilitate all of the residents’ needs around the clock.
As part of the new development, accommodation for over 400,000 residents will be provided as part of the residential side of the project. Offering additional housing for dwellers in Nigeria’s capital city, which is currently suffering from a housing shortage, a mix of short and long-term apartments, houses and condos will be available across a broad pricing spectrum, making potential residents a priority for the new island.
The Marina District will not only provide business opportunities and commercial spaces but also residences and hotels. A number of new hotels are planned within the scheme, including a 500-key new-build 4-star hotel and resort that will feature a wellness center and business and conference facilities.
Residences and hotels will be situated on the Azuri Peninsula overlooking the marina and benefiting from idyllic views across the waterfront and cultivating a world of “effortlessly luxurious living”. The first of these hotels and residences are set to open this year.
Eko Atlantic Hotels
Eko Atlantic is a dynamic new city that will rise from the Atlantic Ocean, adjacent to Victoria Island in Lagos, Nigeria the biggest and fastest-growing city in West Africa. It will be built on land that is being reclaimed from the sea and is now for sale. Eko Atlantic will become home to at least 250,000 residents, with commuter volume expected to exceed 150,000 people daily.
2020
By November, some most notable structures like Eko Pearl Towers had been completed with several more under development and in planning stages. The area has become an active venue for popular afro concerts and sports events like the Copa Lagos and Lagos City Marathon. Eko Atlantic City has also received an EDGE certification from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.
2021
Eko Atlantic City comprises many ongoing and complete schemes. All approved structures being delivered in Eko Atlantic City are registered by the Eko Atlantic Sales Office.
The multipurpose structure of, the Anglican Church for All Nations comprises places of worship, residences, and gathering place.
The Alpha 1 is a Grade A office developed in Marina District.
The Arkland A&A Towers is a two and three-bedroom apartment with shops and offices delivered to the highest specifications.
The Azuri Peninsula is a modern mixed-use development also in Marina District set for luxury offices, residences, and retail.
Eko Energy City.
October 2021
The United States (US) Department of State awarded Pernix Federal, LLC of Lombard, Illinois US$ 319M design-build contract for a new US Consulate General in a 12.2-acre site in Eko Atlantic City.
Reportedly, the location of the project will provide the future diplomatic campus and its neighbors with access to sustainable, modern infrastructure, including an 8.5 km seawall designed to protect the city from rising sea levels and coastal erosion
With Ennead Architects of New York, as the design architect, the new Consulate General will provide a modern, resilient platform for diplomacy in the West African country and is expected to be completed in 2027.
Property and Real estate development firm, Messrs Tetramanor Limited also revealed plans to build a 28-floor luxury tower in Eko-Atlantic City (EAC), Lagos. The scheme, known as TM High Gardens, is situated in the City’s Harbour Lights district, with views of the Marina, port, and waterways. The development will consist of two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom maisonettes. Other amenities anticipated are a bar and lounge, elevated pool, gym, and children’s play area.
The Chief Executive Officer, Femi Beecroft, who revealed the project in Lagos, urged innovative construction solutions in the housing industry to make the accommodation more affordable for the residents, stating that there has to be a paradigm shift in the designs homes are constructed in the country. The construction will commence in the first quarter of 2022, completed by Q4 2024. The maisonettes are the best definition of affordable luxury, considering the sizes of the homes and affordable prices.”
Construction underway for 28-floor TM High Gardens in Eko-Atlantic City
Messrs Tetramanor Limited, a private limited liability company providing real estate and property development services in Nigeria, through Femi Beecroft, the Chief Executive Officer announced plans to construct a 28-floor luxury tower dubbed TM High Gardens in Eko-Atlantic City (EAC), Lagos.
The project will reportedly be located in the Harbour Lights district of the Nigerian International Commerce city, which apart from EAC is also referred to as Eko Atlantic City.
Commenting on the location of the project, Mr. Beecroft said at first they wrote off EAC as being too expensive and focused on Ikoyi instead, but “after a site tour, I was convinced otherwise. The views of the Atlantic particularly are second to none. It takes a visionary to see what it could be…”
An overview of the TM High Gardens in Eko-Atlantic City
The TM High Gardens in Eko-Atlantic City features two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom maisonettes with a total area of 250 square meters, arguably the largest three-bedroom units in the city.
Also Read: Construction of 200 Units of Bungalows at Sapphire Court in Nigeria
“Rather than the typical ‘flats’ concept, we have incorporated maisonettes, that is, ‘duplexes’ so as to give the owners a sense of true luxury, especially when combined with the expansive balconies that offer clear views of the Marina, port, and waterways,” explained the Messrs Tetramanor Limited CEO adding that during the design stage they focused on two things which are “making the designs family and pocket-friendly.”
In addition to the apartments, the project whose groundbreaking ceremony will take place in the first quarter of 2022, also features amenities such as a bar and lounge, a gym, an elevated pool, and a children’s play area.
The TM High Gardens in Eko-Atlantic City is expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2024.
November 2021
West Marina District, a luxury mixed-use community with a handful of residential, retail, and office developments in Eko Atlantic City was commissioned in a ceremony on the sidelines of which a light-up event for the Azuri Office Tower that is expected to be fully ready by mid-December 2021 was held. The other two of the Azuri Towers development i.e. Azuri One and Azuri Two towers are expected to be opened in 2022.
December 2021
Gateway Real Estate Africa develops LOS1 Lagos Data Centre, a 10-megawatt data center being developed on a 4,946 square meters piece of land in the Eko Atlantic.
With a Gross construction Area of 1,445 square meters and a Gross Leasable space of 1,078 square meters, the LOS1 Lagos Data Centre is planned to contain 6 data halls with 6000 square meters of white area. Some of its facilities comprise a High Rack Density of 20KW, a Critical IT load of 10.65MW, a Connection to 24/7 security operations together with a service control center, and HVAC, power, and building critical systems which are managed 24/7 and generator backup, fueled to offer a minimum of 72 hours backup fuel at fully loaded, backed up by service delivery agreements with diesel vendors. Gateway Real Estate Africa is a private real estate development organization specializing in turnkey construction schemes partnering with Africa Data Centres (ADC), Africa’s biggest network of interconnected, carriers- and cloud-neutral data center provisions.
Also in December, Azuri Office Tower was fully completed and operations were set to start by 12th, 2021. The Azuri Towers scheme, which constructed in 2017. After the Office Tower getting fully completed, the other two residential towers are also set to be completed in 2022. Eko Atlantic City officials revealed that beneficial occupancy of the offices will start on the 12th of December, 2021. The office tower will consist of 28 floors and around c. 27,000sqm of office area resting on a four-floor parking area and podium.
The two residential towers — Azuri One and Azuri Two — will consist of around 130 residential apartments altogether. The units will include luxury 3 and 4-bed apartments, and 6-bed simplexes (penthouses). Also to be featured are a Private outdoor swimming pool, Games room, and state-of-the-art gym.
August 2022
Eko Atlantic City Project Runs into Legal Huddles
Sea Global Energy Company Limited, the real estate development firm behind the Ocean City Lagos Project, has accused the Lagos State Government and South Energyx, the developers of the Eko Atlantic City project, of encroaching on the land allocated by the Federal Government for the Ocean City Lagos Project. Sea Global Energy claims that South Energyx, with the support of the state government, has encroached upon 44.348 hectares of land initially allocated by the Federal Government in 2003.
According to Sea Global Energy, in 2003, President Olusegun Obasanjo granted the company the right to reclaim up to 350 hectares of land from the Atlantic Ocean for the development of the Palladium Project, now known as the Ocean City Lagos Project. However, in 2004 and 2005, the Lagos State Government sought approval from the Federal Government on behalf of Energyx Ltd. (now South Energyx Ltd.) for the allocation of Bar Beach landholding. President Obasanjo approved the request with two conditions: that the Federal Ministry of Works would supervise the project and that any prior federal government interest in the area must be respected.
Sea Global Energy has claimed to have written multiple letters to the Federal Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, regarding the encroachment issue but has not received any response. The company questions why the Lagos State Governor sought approval from the President if the state government had the authority to allocate the land to Energyx Ltd. without it.
Sea Global Energy is seeking a resolution to the matter in an equitable and peaceful manner.
https://constructionreviewonline.com/2015/07/eko-atlantic-city/
https://constructionreviewonline.com/2015/04/nigeria-eko-atlantic-citys-phase-development-plan-launched/
