There was tension and confusion in Lagos on Tuesday as the gates leading into Banana Island, one of Nigeria’s most exclusive estates located in the Ikoyi area of the state, were shut down, effectively restricting entry and exit for residents and visitors.
The sudden closure, which has since gone viral on social media, triggered a massive gridlock on the Lekki-Ajah expressway and several parts of Ikoyi, leaving commuters stranded for hours.
In a video circulating online, long queues of vehicles were seen at a standstill, with estate security personnel manning the gate and preventing movement in and out of the highbrow estate.
The reason for the lockdown remains unclear, though speculations suggest it is linked to a proposed demolition of the Banana Island Club House and other illegal structures reportedly marked for removal.
A viral broadcast message added fuel to the speculation, stating: “Lagos State Govt agency has just shut down Banana Island — disallowing residents and visitors from entering or leaving.”
Further intensifying the confusion, social media users weighed in with varying accounts. One X (formerly Twitter) user, with the handle #Nothingispromised, expressed frustration, writing: “We love suffering in this country.
So because government officials dey Banana Island, no car fit go in or out of the estate until they are gone? They have successfully created another crazy traffic that will affect Lekki and part of Ikoyi.”
However, in response to the growing unrest, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) denied any involvement in the closure of the estate.
Speaking to reporters, the agency’s spokesperson, Adu Ademuyiwa, stated clearly that their officials were not present at the estate and had not ordered any shutdown.
“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,” Ademuyiwa clarified.
Meanwhile, reports continue to circulate that the state government is preparing to demolish certain illegal structures on Banana Island, as part of a broader enforcement of urban planning regulations.
LASBCA’s General Manager, Gbolahan Oki, confirmed at a recent stakeholders’ meeting that the agency is committed to restoring order in building practices across Lagos.
He noted that similar enforcement operations had already taken place in other parts of the state, including Abule Egba, Iya Niba, and Iyana Isheri, where buildings constructed under high-tension power lines were demolished for safety reasons.
As of the time of this report, it remains unclear which government agency, if any, is behind Tuesday’s blockade at Banana Island.
Residents and commuters continue to call for clarification, while the state government is yet to issue an official statement on the cause of the sudden restriction.