There are a lot of amazing facts about Lagos Island that you seem not to know.
It will amount to a taboo for you to live in the city and yet not a thing or two about the area that has contributed so much to what Lagos is today.
The Lagos Island
Lagos is widely known as a megacity and a financial and economic hub of Nigeria.
Being the one-time capital of Nigeria, this city houses a lot of areas. Raging from the mainland, island, and highland.
Let’s take a look at the island.
Which areas are under Lagos Island?
Lagos Island also called Isale Eko is the major central-local government area in Lagos state.
With approximately an area of 8.7km and has a population of 209,437. It is part of the Lagos division of the preliminary 2006 Nigerian census. The majority of the city’s population is centered on the island.
Connecting the island to the mainland are two bridges that cross Lagos Lagoon to the district of Ebute Metta.
History has it that Lagos Island was home to the Brazilian quarter of Lagos where the slave trade returnees from Brazil settled. Have you ever wondered why the island looks like a world of its own?
Maybe you haven’t been on the island and will want to know what to look out for.
Well, here are amazing facts you probably may not have known about Lagos Island:
Facts About The Lagos Island
- Most Nigerian banks’ head offices are located in Lagos including the First Bank of Nigeria which has its head office in Marina, Lagos state. Marina is a side on the island that may be described as the big men’s big money center.
- The Marina road on the island is host to several offices and structures, and due to the condition of the soil, most structures are piled or raft. Also, the headquarters of the bank of the industry was first built here in1960.
- Lagos Island is the principal local government area of Lagos state otherwise known as Lasgidi. The Local government area covers the western half of Lagos Island.
- The Lagos island has a population of 212,700 people and its time zone is the UTC+ 1 (WAT)
- Lagos Island is home to Eko the Yoruba fishing village and has now developed into the Lagos modern city.
- The island is extremely crowded and traffic is locked often towards the Lagoon. The Obas (kings) of Lagos reside on this island. Having seen periods of rule by the Benin Kingdom, Lagos Island holds the seat of the oba of Lagos.
- The Eyo festival can only be held in this part of Lagos. Maybe there are reasons for this but we will surely say is because of the presence of the Oba’s throne and palace on the island which is not so far from the Lagos lagoon.
- The freedom park is beautifully situated on this island, formerly a prison yard to the ‘her majesty’s broad street prisons’ and now a major tourist attraction site. The freedom park was created as a memorial in remembrance of Nigeria’s founding fathers that fought against the colonial master’s rule.
- Lagos Island is called isale eko. The name Eko was given to it by the first king, Oba Ado. Lagos which means Lakes was later given by the Portuguese explorer Rui de Sequira who visited the area in 1472.
- The Ibrahim Babangida Bridge connects Lagos Island to the mainland and is the longest bridge in Africa measuring about 11.8km until 1996.
- The island was one time a pepper farm and a fishing post where no one lived, who could have thought that the now overpopulated and blossoming island was once home to only pepper and fishes.
- The original settlement on the northwestern part of Lagos Island is now a slum area filled with poor housing, population, and narrow streets. The main business district lies on the island’s southwestern shore and contains luxurious buildings.
- Victoria Island encompasses the neighboring Lagos Island, the Lekki peninsula, and the Lagos lagoon.
- The architecture work on the island dates back to the creoles’ contribution to the modernization of Lagos state due to their knowledge of Portuguese architecture.
- The island is a geographical term used to describe the area of Lagos separated from the mainland. The main channel draining the lagoon into the Atlantic Ocean settles on this part of Lagos. The island is a collection of islands separated from each other by creeks of varying sizes and connected by bridges.
- The island houses the national museum of Nigeria so also the central mosque and the Christ church cathedral alongside other places of importance to the historical development of Nigeria both religion, arts, and modernization.
- Lagos island’s Tinubu square is where the 1914 amalgamation ceremony united the northern and southern protectorate to form Nigeria. it is still a place of historical importance.
- Most high-rise buildings and skyscrapers are located on the island including the ultramodern colonial buildings since it was once an abode for the colonialists.
- Though this island holds the nation’s highest number of millionaires, it also has several poor residents but that does not lead to its poverty level.
- The Awori settlement inhabited the larger Lagos Island and when it was conquered by the Benin Empire in the 16th century, the island became a war camp called Eko and Eko is still the native name of Lagos state.
- Lagos state is a home for all, but the Island is the root of it all. Now you know why the island holds it all, the culture, the religion, the history, and of course the facts that never met your thoughts or eyes. It looks like the island holds the icing on the cake when Lagos state is a concern.
- Nature, climate, historical artifacts, leisure, and world rankings can be left on the palms of the Island and it will not disappoint to stand out.
Which of these facts got to you? Well, this may just show you the part of the island you are most interested in. have you never visited the island? Here are some popular markets on Lagos Island.
Perhaps, you should have these in mind when trading the path of Lagos Island next time.