There has been so much talk about the place called Lekki. What makes it tick? Why are more and more Nigerians thronging there and wanting to live there? And why does it attract a swarm of wealthy expatriates?
Well, the answers to these questions aren’t far-fetched. Lekki is downright gorgeous. This area in the island of Lagos is where anybody would want to call home.
But beyond the glistening facade that makes all of us want to identify with Lekki, below are other facts about this place on the island that you may not know.
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- 1. Oniru And More Or Less Other Parts Of Lekki Used To Be A Slum Called Maroko
- 2. Lekki – Ikoyi Bridge Is West Africa’s First Cable-Stayed Bridge
- 3. Lekki Is Under 2 Local Governments, Eti-osa & Epe
- 4. Lekki Is Adjudged One Of The Most Luxurious Real Estate Possessions In The World
- 5. Lekki Conservation Centre Is 27 Years Old
1. Oniru And More Or Less Other Parts Of Lekki Used To Be A Slum Called Maroko
If you were at Oniru and some parts of Lekki some two decades ago, you may never have imagined that a place as beautiful as the Lekki we all know today could be built from it. This is because what we used to know as the famous Maroko slum that was demolished in 1990 was what beautifully gave birth to the place known as Oniru and environs. Today the area is a site to behold and most people in other parts of Lagos can give anything to call it home.
2. Lekki – Ikoyi Bridge Is West Africa’s First Cable-Stayed Bridge
Some of us who have travelled out of the country and come across cable-strayed bridges can’t deny being full of admiration for the architectural wonder. This is one reason we were all very glad when the Lekki-Ikoyi cable-stayed link bridge was commissioned in 2013. It’s the first of its kind in the country, and it further adorned the scenic Lekki, hanging marvelously like a beautiful bird about to fly away to a distant land.
3. Lekki Is Under 2 Local Governments, Eti-osa & Epe
Many Nigerians — or rather, Lagosians have no inkling that Lekki is in two local government areas. The fact is however that Lekki is under 2 main local governments. These are Eti-osa and Epe, both of which boast of high number of people of different ethnicity and nationality.
4. Lekki Is Adjudged One Of The Most Luxurious Real Estate Possessions In The World
It’s no longer news that the rich and famous live in Lekki. In fact some of the crème de la crème in the society; be it in the entertainment industry or government reside in Lekki. It is no wonder that living in the heart of Lekki cost an arm and a leg. A Mere self-contain flat can cost up to a million. Owning a property in Lekki thus means owning one of the most expensive real estate asset not only in Nigeria, but also in the world.
5. Lekki Conservation Centre Is 27 Years Old
If you were asked how old the Lekki Conservation Centre was, chances are that you may say 5 years or so. The fact however is that Lekki Conservation Centre is 27 years old.
“From its origin and establishment in 1990 by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) has grown into one of Africa’s prominent and most-diverse urban Nature Parks due to its high species richness,” the Nigerian Conservation Foundation states on their website.
The conservation has a lot of interesting places like; Tree House, Nature Station, Bird Hide, Swamp Lookout Station, Rotunda, 96-Seater Gazebos, Koi & Tilapia ponds, Beach Volleyball courts & Spectators’ pavilion, Barbecue joints, and gym facilities where, of course anyone can have a lot of fun.