The gates of Banana Island, located in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State, were sealed off on Tuesday, halting both entry and exit from the estate.The closure triggered heavy traffic congestion along the Lekki-Ajah corridor and parts of Ikoyi.Speculations suggest the lockdown may be connected to the proposed demolition of the Banana Island Club House.
A viral video showed long queues of vehicles stranded inside the estate, with security personnel stationed at the gates preventing movement in and out. As of the time of this report, there were conflicting reports about which government body was behind the action.Some sources pointed fingers at federal agencies, while others suggested the Lagos State government was responsible.
Following a broadcast message circulating among residents, our correspondent contacted the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), which denied any involvement.
The viral message read: “Lagos State Govt agency has just shut down Banana Island — disallowing residents and visitors from entering or leaving.”An X (formerly Twitter) user, #Nothingispromised, added, “We love suffering in this country. So because government officials dey Banana Island, no car fit go in or out of the estate until they are gone? They’ve successfully created another crazy traffic that will affect Lekki and part of Ikoyi.”
Reacting to the reports, LASBCA spokesperson Adu Ademuyiwa dismissed the claims, saying, “It is not true. Our men are not there, and we have not prevented any residents or visitors from accessing Banana Island. When demolition of illegal buildings is scheduled, the public will be duly informed.”
Earlier reports from The PUNCH noted that planned demolitions on Banana Island align with the government’s broader push to enforce urban development regulations and promote public safety.
LASBCA General Manager, Gbolahan Oki, recently confirmed at a stakeholders’ meeting that any structure found violating building codes—especially those under high-tension power lines or within restricted shoreline zones—would be marked and taken down. He also referenced similar operations already carried out in areas such as Abule Egba, Iya Niba, and Iyana Isheri.
Source : https://punchng.com/
