Lagos Gridlock: Banana Island On Lockdown, Estate Gates Shut As Traffic Chaos Spreads To Lekki-Ajah
- Banana Island, a high-end estate in Ikoyi, Lagos, was shut down on Tuesday, leading to long vehicle queues and gridlock on some routes, especially along the Lekki-Ajah axis
- There were conflicting reports about the cause of the closure, with some speculating that it was linked to the proposed demolition of the Banana Club House
- The general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki, has also reacted to the development, but concerned authorities denied involvement
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
Lagos state - Many were stranded on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, as the gates of the Banana Island situated in the Ikoyi Area of Lagos state were shut for entry and exit.
This shutdown has caused gridlock on the Lekki-Ajah axis and some other parts of Ikoyi.
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According to The Punch, there were speculations that the shutdown was due to the proposed demolition of the Banana Club House.
In a viral video on Tuesday, vehicles in long queues were seen stranded in the estate, with some men manning the gate to the estate.
As of the time of filing this report, there were contradictory claims on the government agencies responsible for the development.
While some attributed it to agencies of the federal government, some others said the state government agencies were responsible.
As reported by The Punch, the Lagos State Building Control Agency denied any involvement in the development.
Banana Island traffic: LABSCA denies involvement
Reacting, the spokesperson for LABSCA, Adu Ademuyiwa, noted that the claim that their officials are on the ground disrupting activities in the area is unfounded.
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He said:
“It is not true. Our men are not there. And we have not stopped any residents or visitors from entering their estate on Banana Island. When the time for the demolition of the illegal buildings in the area would be done, we will communicate it appropriately to the public.”
Interestingly, the decision to demolish illegal structures in Banana Island would be followed by the government’s commitment to enforcing urban planning laws and ensuring public safety.
According to the agency’s general manager, Gbolahan Oki, LASBCA has carried out similar actions in other parts of the state, including Abule Egba, Iya Niba, and Iyana Isheri, where illegal buildings under high-tension lines were removed.
The general manager made this known at a stakeholders’ meeting on Banana Island recently.
He stated that structures found violating building codes, including those under high-tension power lines and within restricted shoreline areas, would be identified and subsequently demolished.
However, BusinessDay reported that the serenity and peace that define Banana Island in Lagos was violated on Tuesday morning by officials of the Federal Ministry of Works who were in the estate to enforce the construction of an access road to a new estate whose development is still in the works.
The medium also shared a video of the development.
Watch the video below:
Read related articles about Lagos traffic here:
- Funke Akindele reacts to Lagos gridlock
- FG orders emergency reopening of Lagos' Independence bridge amid traffic chaos
Lagos traffic: Umahi reopens Independence bridge
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that David Umahi, the minister of works, on Friday, April 4, reopened the Independence Bridge located on Victoria Island.
The minister's decision followed the massive traffic gridlock that enveloped Victoria Island and Ikoyi areas of Lagos state.
Many road users left their vehicles and trekked several kilometres to reach their destination while hundreds of others spent hours, even to the early parts of Thursday, April 3, on the road.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, copy editor at Legit.ng.
