The residents of Banana Island in Lagos and officials of the federal ministry of works were at logger-head Tuesday over the construction of an access road to a new estate to be developed adjacent to the island.
The ministry officials ‘invaded’ the upscale estate intent on enforcing the construction of the access road, but were resisted by the residents, who cited security concerns and significant impact on some of the estate facilities including the entrance gate and recreation facilities.
The invasion of the estate which lasted for hours ruffled the serenity and peace of the estate which is inhabited by high net-worth individuals. This prompted the Banana Island Property Owners & Residents Association, Lagos (BIPORAL) officials to invite the police to forestall a breakdown of law and order in the estate.
When BusinessDay visited the estate amid heavy traffic gridlock which stretched from the entrance to the estate gate, a heavy security presence and a charged atmosphere were observed.
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The early morning invasion disrupted movement and other activities in the estate and the traffic snarl it triggered lasted for a couple hours even after the ministry officials had left and the estate gate was opened.
Many residents and sundry visitors were seen trekking right from Gerard Road into the estate. Security officials had hectic time trying to control the surging crowd that massed at the estate gate.
The access road and planned estate to be known as Apple Island are an old story as BusinessDay recalls that a couple of years ago, the residents rose against the proposed development of the new estate to be developed by the Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL).
The proposed island was to be located 400 meters off the shoreline of Banana Island. It was to sit on 45 hectares, with a total of 131 plots. The island was to consist of a shopping mall, guest house, police station, mosque, and clubhouse. That protest paid off as the project was suspended.
It took the intervention of the then Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Burutai, to resolve the ensuing impasse. The army chief had come to flag off the construction of the estate, but was resisted by the Banana Island residents.
