Here’s why investment-interest in Eko Atlantic is high despite economic slowdown, land price

At a time when many developments are struggling to get off ground as a result of Covid-19 impact and general slowdown in economy, investment interest in Eko Atlantic City in Lagos remains high.

This interest is not affected either by the high land price in the city which is way ahead of what obtains in adjoining highbrow neighbourhoods such as Old Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki Phase 1, meaning that the city has values and attractions that investors find too hard to resist.

Sitting on 10 million square meters of land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean, Eko Atlantic is Nigeria’s most ambitious new city located adjacent to Victoria Island in Lagos. It is planned to be a self-sustaining city that will be home to 300,000 residents with 250,000 others expected to work in the city.

The city is protected from ocean surge or other adverse environmental issues by a sea wall known as Great Wall of Lagos, measuring nine metres above sea level, 85 kilometres long and 46 kilometres wide.

Right from inception, investors have shown interest in the project and confidence in the developers, South Energyx Nigeria, and their ability to deliver a world class city.

“More people are beginning to recognise that the project is for the future and would become one of the major cities in the world,” David Frame, managing director of South Energyx, noted during a tour of the project recently.

This, more than anything else, explains why investors have continued to flock to the city. Though the price of land in the city is a guarded secret, a source close to the firm’s marketing department says a square metre of land in the city goes for well above $1,000 mark, depending on location.

This contrasts with prices in Old Ikoyi which, according to a Northcourt market report, sold for N436,667 and N415,000 per square metre in 2019 and 2020 respectively. In Victoria Island, the report says land sold for N351, 912 and N330,000 per square metre in 2019 and 2020 respectively, while Lekki land sold for N184,361 and N198,000 per square metre in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

In spite of this price differential, about 70 per cent of land in phases one and two of Eko Atlantic has been sold out, according to Frame. Also, 50 per cent of the reclaimed areas in phases 1, II and II1 have infrastructure such as road, bridges, streetlights, wastewater treatment plants, sewage, and canals.

This shows the unimaginable level to which good infrastructure can drive demand in real estate. It draws yield-hungry investors like the sweet-smelling nectar draws insects to a flower. Infrastructure is key.

“90 percent of the needed infrastructure in phase 1 has been completed, 70 percent in phase 2 and about 20 percent in phase 3,” the managing director disclosed, adding that phases 4, 5 and 6 of the city were on the way while they were considering starting sand-filling for phase 4 soon.

Besides infrastructure, another reason investors are attracted to the city is because it would serve as the first green and smart city in Nigeria given the huge investment in technology and green components the developer has made. About 250, 000 trees are being raised for the city’s green programme.

The city would also be the hub of information technology services in Nigeria. It is expected to transform the property market with its standard infrastructure.

The city’s public transport system would be one of a kind. 15 bridges have been completed. Expectation is that with this and over 100 kilometres of roads, visitors and commuters could access the city through waterways and internal canal.

It is not yet known when the city, initially estimated to cost $6 billion on construction side, would be completed. This uncertainty, according to Frame, is because the development relies on loans from both local and international banks as well as local sales.

“A lot of the materials such as rocks for the wall, cement and others used for the project are procured locally, but the foreign exchange rate has some influence on the project,” he said.

Despite these challenges, the city has seen iconic developments—some completed and others on-going. The completed ones are underground storm water drainage and streetlights. Others are Azuri Peninsula, Arkland A&A Towers, Alpha One, Eko Energy Estate, Eko Pearl, Eko Pearl Corporate Tower, Lagos Sky Tower Residences, and Anglican Church for All Nation.