Nigeria Builds City from the Ocean: Eko Atlantic Rises from the Sea

A spectacular infrastructure project is taking shape off the coast of Nigeria, where millions of tons of sand are being used to create new land for a city designed to rival Manhattan in size. This ambitious undertaking, known as Eko Atlantic, is being developed near the metropolis of Lagos on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean.

Considered one of Africa's most ambitious urban development projects, Eko Atlantic aims to expand available construction space while simultaneously protecting the coastline from decades of erosion. Launched in the early 2000s, the project is a collaboration between South Energyx Nigeria Limited, the Lagos State government, and the federal government of Nigeria.

According to consulting firm Royal HaskoningDHV, over 75 million cubic meters of sand had been used for land reclamation by June 2023. Upon completion, the project will require approximately 95 million cubic meters of sand, creating a new city covering nearly 10 million square meters. The first phases of infrastructure, including bridges and water and sewage systems, are already complete, with developers preparing for further expansion.

Eko Atlantic is envisioned as an extension of Victoria Island, a key financial and residential hub in Lagos. The sand is dredged from the seabed and deposited within a designated perimeter to form stable land for modern buildings, residential areas, office blocks, commercial spaces, and comprehensive utility networks. Beyond expanding the city, the project directly addresses the severe coastal erosion that has plagued Lagos for years, effectively restoring the coastline to its 1905 position.