25-460: The Federal Palace Hotel is a luxury hotel and casino in Victoria Island , Lagos, Nigeria . The hotel is notable for having been the setting for the signing of Nigeria's Declaration of Independence . Established in 1960 to provide accommodation for dignitaries visiting Nigeria as part of the independence process, it was constructed and originally owned by the A. G. Leventis Group. The hotel
50-563: 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. This new area established after
75-472: A true island. 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
100-580: 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. A new project being developed by the Chagoury Group includes the Eko Atlantic City , located next to Victoria Island. The project
125-664: 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). A large part of
150-786: Is being built on reclaimed land that has been lost to coastal erosion . 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. Activists and displaced Maroko residents continue to hold Maroko Remembrance Day each year on 14 July. There are many galleries on Victoria Island. Guaranty Trust Bank and Access Bank plc have their headquarters on
175-455: Is located in Ikoyi. On November 1, 2021, a 21-storey building on Gerrard Road collapsed during its construction , killing several workers. The Greenhouse Premium City Club , exclusive club home to an outdoor terrace lounge, adult and kids pools, a pool bar, cabanas, indoor sports bar with top chefs. Google Nigeria is headquartered in Ikoyi. The Lagos Jet Ski Riders Club, an elite club for
200-519: Is part of the Silverbird cinema chain and should not be confused with the cinemas of the same name in other parts of Lagos. 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,
225-497: Is the most affluent neighborhood of Lagos , located in Eti-Osa Local Government Area . It lies to the northeast of Obalende and adjoins Lagos Island to the west, and at the edge of the Lagos Lagoon . Popular with the extreme upper class residents of Nigerian society, Ikoyi is arguably one of the wealthiest communities within Nigeria . The area that makes up Ikoyi was originally a continuous land mass with Lagos Island , until it
250-503: Is typically closer to the original, older part of Ikoyi, which includes some of the most historic and well-established neighborhoods. Ikoyi I often features more traditional architecture and older buildings, though many have been renovated or repurposed for modern use. This part of Ikoyi might house some of the well-known landmarks and historic sites, like the Ikoyi Club and some of the older colonial-era structure. Ikoyi II generally refers to
275-538: 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
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#1732856042731300-940: The Netherlands, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The British International School Lagos , and the Lycée Français Louis Pasteur de Lagos are on Victoria Island. Also located on Victoria Island is the American International School of Lagos , 6°25′50″N 3°25′20″E / 6.43056°N 3.42222°E / 6.43056; 3.42222 See also: List of schools in Lagos See also: List of hospitals in Lagos See also: List of festivals in Lagos See also: Architecture of Lagos Ikoyi Ikoyi
325-505: The age and style of development, and the type of landmarks or facilities present in each area. During the colonial era, the island was developed as a residential cantonment for the expatriate British community and still retains many of the large colonial residences built between 1900 and 1950. In the 1920s and 1930s, about 250 acres of land within South West Ikoyi and Obalende were reclaimed and redeveloped. The scheme also led to
350-470: 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
375-467: The hotel's operator. In 2019, Sun announced that it planned to sell its stake in the hotel due to disputes within the Ibru family over hotel leadership. In 2024, Sun sold 43% of its stake to an entity associated with the family of Alex Ibru . When Nigeria gained its independence from Britain in 1960, it was in the main boardroom of the newly constructed Federal Palace Hotel that Nigeria's independence declaration
400-576: The island, Halliburton and IBM operate offices on Victoria Island. Akin Adesola Street and the Adeola Odeku Street that runs into it on Victoria Island are the hot spot in terms of Lagos' better nightclubs.[6] Travel vlogger Drew Binsky raves about the city's vibrant nightlife with its "swanky bars, rowdy clubs, chill lounges and beach parties." The Silverbird Galleria is a shopping and entertainment centre on upmarket Victoria Island. It
425-629: The main attractions in Ikoyi is Awolowo Road, which is a high street lined with upscale shops and boutiques. Due to its proximity to Victoria Island and Lagos Island, much of Lagos's business tourism is centred on Ikoyi, which has a mix of excellent 4-star hotels. Owing to recent unrest in the Niger Delta , several oil companies have moved their expatriate staff to Ikoyi. The area is now home to several large luxury apartments, estates, and upscale office developments. Lagos Preparatory School (13+), regarded as Africa's most highly accredited British School,
450-456: The newer developments and extensions of the original Ikoyi, sometimes encompassing areas that have seen significant recent growth. Ikoyi II is often characterized by more contemporary developments, high-rise luxury apartments, and new commercial properties. This section might include new shopping complexes, office buildings, and modern infrastructure developments. The primary differences between Ikoyi I and Ikoyi II lie in their location within Ikoyi,
475-457: 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 ,
500-404: The redevelopment of a road to connect Onikan with Bourdillon Rd. Upmarket residential properties continued to be built after the colonial period, and the Island and its Dodan Barracks became the residence of some of Nigeria's military rulers. Ikoyi now contains many other government buildings as well as businesses, hotels, schools, the famous social club Ikoyi Club , and Ikoyi Golf Club. One of
525-447: The wealthiest of Nigerians is located in Ikoyi. Ikoyi Golf Club The Falamo garden The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is headquartered in Ikoyi. The World Health Organization (WHO) has its Lagos office in Ikoyi. The Nigerian Government Presidential Secretariat is headquartered in Ikoyi. The Deputy-Governor of Lagos State lives in Ikoyi. All of Nigeria's billionaires maintain property in Ikoyi. Ikoyi
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#1732856042731550-514: Was acquired by the Nigerian government in 1964 and went through a series of managers in the following years, falling into disrepair and partially recovering. In 1992, the government sold the hotel to the Ibru family (via Ikeja hotel Plc) for $ 50M, outbidding the Daewoo corporation of South Korea. In 2007, South Africa hospitality and gaming company Sun International purchased a 49% stake in the hotel, and became
575-669: 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
600-552: Was separated from it by the MacGregor canal , a narrow waterway that was dug by the British colonial government. This canal has now been built over or filled in, so that the island is fused with Lagos Island once again. It has been called in derogatory terms the " Beverly Hills by the slum" or the Belgravia of Lagos. The area is often referred to as Ikoyi I and Ikoyi II. Ikoyi I is the area
625-659: Was signed. This boardroom is now one of the main features of the hotel's casino. The official celebration of Nigeria's independence took place in the hotel's Independence Hall, which, also in 1977, hosted the summit of heads of state of the Organization of African Unity and the Festival of African Arts and Culture (FESTAC). See also: List of schools in Lagos See also: List of hospitals in Lagos See also: List of festivals in Lagos See also: Architecture of Lagos Victoria Island, Lagos Victoria Island ( VI )
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