Ruairi Moriarty

I arrived in Lagos on Sunday night and there is still the threat of rain in the air, even during this annual lull known as the 'mango rains', a less oppressive period lasting several weeks before the rainy season truly ends in September. Lagos has experienced its worst rains in perhaps 20 years during this rainy season. The central business districts spanning 'the Islands' have been hit hard, with at times all roads impassable. Many wealthy Nigerians have taken the opportunity to relocate temporarily to London, where it has been possible for us to meet many of the major landlords.

Infrastructure upgrades to certain districts of the city are continuing to have material effect. Most noticeably the connecting road from Ikoyi to Banana Island has been significantly upgraded and the passage is now broad and well drained. We consider Banana Island will benefit from an upsurge in interest as a viable corporate office location as a result, especially as the ever nearing link bridge constructed from the Lekki side nears completion. The elevated supports for the new light rail system are largely in place in Apapa. The perimeter fence is now finished for the proposed new international airport east of Chevron's headquarters on the Lekki peninsula and close to the slowly evolving Lekki Free Trade Zone.

We are close to finalising agreement to create 3,000 sq m of office and warehousing space within a dilapidated warehouse off the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, controlled by an international corporate. Build time is estimated at approximately 20 months and this solution will come in at considerably lower cost and timing than securing a newly leased site and building from scratch. This unorthodox solution is a result of the continuing absence of any reasonable quality office space existing for lease on Mainland Lagos.

The following photograph was taken looking out over the western part of VI.