NIWA Stops Apple Island Estate Project

The Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has placed a stop-work order on the development of Apple Island Estate that is being constructed on the edge of the Lagos Lagoon off Banana Island Ikoyi.

Apple Island, which is being constructed by the Nigeria Army Property Company Limited (NAPCL) and Tauraf International Limited, Joint Venture Partners, has drawn the ire of Banana Island Residents and homeowners, under their body, Banana Island Residents and Property Owners Limited.

The proposed Apple Island is located within the Lagos Lagoon waterways, which requires appropriate technical and stakeholders’ engagement before approval can be given by NIWA.

Residents of Banana Island complained that an estate of such stature should follow due process, complete with environmental impact assessment, not to talk of security impact of high volume traffic that is expected to cut across their pristine environment to the new island estate.

NIWA’s stop work order was placed on March 18, this year, and it is intended to ensure the developer of the new estate positively follow their guidelines before dredging can proceed. They also need to provide environmental impact analysis, obtain approval from Federal Ministry of Environment to create the Island, hold public hearing, present a survey Plan and Certificate of Ownership\ Occupancy and make payments.