The role of the state in new master-planned city projects in Nigeria

Keywords: New cities, Eko Atlantic, Nigeria, PPP, state entrepreneurialism
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

There are around 13 new master-planned city projects either proposed or under construction in Nigeria. The majority of these projects are public-private partnerships supported by the local and federal government as a means of boosting the economy by attracting foreign investments in real estate. Most prominent of the new city projects in Nigeria is Eko Atlantic City located just south of Lagos, which is a new master-planned city currently being built on reclaimed land. Much scholarship has been given to the negative social and environmental impacts of the construction of Eko Atlantic City as well as the many foreign private actors involved which has undermined local knowledge and expertise. Additionally, to elevate the image of Eko Atlantic City, new laws and policies by the state were implemented which evicted thousands of slum dwellers and banned popular transportation vehicles such as motorcycles (also known colloquially as ‘Okada’) in Lagos. Using Eko Atlantic City as a case study, this paper aims to unpack the role that the Nigerian state plays in the creation of new master-planned cities as well as the grassroot challenges to some of the measures taken by the state to prioritize the creation of new urban mega-developments.