₦airaland Forum

Ishilove: Lol. You go fear skyscraper na

Thank you for reminding me to write this.


NECOM House a.k.a NET/Nitel Building

www.nairaland.com/attachments/462246_Necom_House_jpg63621e3ca83edb81acc318b30a167e1f

Net building was declared open by Brigadier Shehu Musa Yar'Adua in 1979. It housed the Nigerian External Telecommunications system. It is located at 15 Marina Street, Lagos Island (opposite State House Marina).

Net building was my favourite building. It has 32 floors with a light house tower at the top (37 floors if you include the tower). The beam from its lighthouse was visible across Ikoyi, Lagos Island, Victoria Island, Apapa and other parts of the mainland (particularly when there was a power outage).

In the 1980s, Net Building was to Lagos/Nigeria what Big Ben is to London/The UK, or what the Statue of Liberty is to New York/The US. It was probably the most significant landmark and was regularly shown on domestic and foreign news broadcasts.

The building caught fire in 1983 (a suspected arson attack). I was so depressed on that day that you would think that I had lost a relative. The fire service had no aerial ladder platforms with which to fight the fire and save victims.

President Shagari, who was on his way to the airport, stopped by to assess the situation. He was stoned by angry Nigerians.

A pregnant woman jumped from the building and died.

I didn't see the beam from the lighthouse again until the early 2000s, although the red beacon light came back on in the mid '80s.

The committee that was set up to investigate the fire recommended that the government should buy an aerial ladder platform (snorkel) for the fire service. A snorkel was bought a few years later and kept at the Campbell Street Headquarters of the Federal Fire Service (I saw them practice nearly every day).

Net Building was rehabilitated and reopened in the late 1990s.

Cocoa House (First skyscraper in Africa)

Cocoa House is owned by the Odua Group of Companies. This 26 storey building was commissioned in 1965. It was the tallest building in tropical Africa when it was commissioned. It was built from proceeds of commodities (particularly cocoa) that were sold by the Western Region.

Cocoa House became the 2nd tallest building in Nigeria when NECOM House was commissioned in 1979. The building was significantly damaged in a fire in 1985, but was rehabilitated and reopened in 1992.

Independence Building

Independence Building is my 2nd favourite building. I was shocked when I was told that it was the tallest building in Nigeria at independence. It doesn't look so tall when compared with other tall buildings in the Marina/Central Lagos area.

Independence Building was commissioned in 1960 and is 23 storeys tall.

The building previously housed some (civil) government ministries. The Ministry of Defence took over the building sometime in the 1980s (I saw a main battle tank there!).

Independence Building also suffered a fire outbreak (I personally believe it was an arson attack). I watched the building burn. At 5 o'clock (or was it 5:30) there was a thin whif of smoke coming from the building. Any half decent fire service should have been able to put out the fire. The Federal Fire Service headquarters (Campbell Street) was just a few streets away. Within an hour the building was ablaze. I can't remember if General Abacha's office was burnt. All these occurred in 1993.

Union Bank Building

In 1987 an architect told me that his company was designing "the tallest building in Nigeria). I now believe he was talking about the Union Bank Building, which was opened in the 1990s. It is also on Marina Street and is 28 storeys tall.

Below: Cocoa House in the 1960s

mrmayor: @naptu2,

Sir, I'm giving you 21 Niger Delta Gbosas, I comot cap for you. Nigeria in Pictures, well done. I allowed my little niece and nephews to take a look at the pictures ( I never allow them on NL) for obvious reasons, they were captivated by them, they can't believe that Nigeria had cars in the 40's 50's. I'm truly impressed.

Thanks

Thank you very much sir.

Do they want to seize the fire or do they want to cease fire?

Mapo Hall, Ibadan.
https://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/68807_492048647789_5377535_n.jpg

Cocoa House, Ibadan. "First skyscraper in Africa"
https://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/74574_492047407789_1376637_n.jpg

In 1987 General Babangida inaugurated the integrated mass transit system, but unfortunately it wasn't implemented until recently when the Lagos State Government took up the idea. We should push for the implementation of this policy as a solution to our transport problems.

When moving from one district of a city to the other people should use BRT, rail or ferry systems. Bus stops should be built at ferry terminals and train stations so that commuters can easily go from one mode of transport to the other.

Mini bus taxis (danfo), motorcycle taxis (okada) and auto-rickshaws (keker Marwa) should primarily ply routes within a district.

Some of the okada riders might take to crime, but that will be a minority. Majority will have the moral boundary that will prevent them from taking to crime. They'll become porters (wheel barrow pushers) at markets, vegetable and fruit sellers, cobblers, etc. (Remember, there are other options apart from crime and okada).

My belief.
I believe we should pressurise state governments to implement multi-modal transport solutions. How come only Lagos State has a BRT system?

I also believe that skills acquisition centres should be set up for those who may lose their source of livelihood because of the ban on okada operations. They should be taught carpentry, tailoring, soap making, etc.

Lagos Harbour/Marina at sunset.
https://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/299835_10150408808392790_175360673_n.jpg

Lagos Yatch Club/Lagos Harbour in the 1950s
https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/305284_10150369930892790_1342860036_n.jpg

McGregor Canal.
The McGregor Canal was dug by governor William McGregor. McGregor was a medical doctor who improved sanitary conditions in Lagos. The canal divided the island into Lagos Island and Ikoyi Island.

It was substantially filled in when the 3rd Mainland Bridge/Ring Road was being constructed in the 1970s

McGregor Canal runs from Lagos Lagoon, past Dolphin Estate, through Obalende, under Awolowo Road and empties into Five Cowrie Creek.

McGregor Canal in the 1950s
www.nairaland.com/attachments/708145_MacGregor20Canal201950_jpg7f95567a855c289ff9bcc6fa6593ba4a

McGregor Canal in 2008
www.nairaland.com/attachments/708146_MacGregor20Canal20March202008_jpgd7131c39f7187f94ce42ea6a8580bd46

McGregor Canal in 2010
www.nairaland.com/attachments/708147_MacGregor20Canal202010_jpg81e28cde5ecaaee271e8f7a5719f04b8

Oshodi before the 2009 transformation
https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/33856_477740092789_4658433_n.jpg

Oshodi during the 2009 transformation.
https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/62831_477740732789_2209265_n.jpg

https://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/39286_477741152789_7518495_n.jpg
Note the wire mesh fence in the foreground, & the RRS pickup & BRT bus in the background.

Oshodi at night (the street lights actually work).
https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/37201_477757452789_3775957_n.jpg

https://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/39565_477781342789_928371_n.jpg

Onyema Coal Mine, Enugu.

https://www.arthurbrooks-images.co.uk/images/Onyema_Coal_Mine_Enugu.JPG

Enugu
https://www.cometonigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/enugu_state_house-285x250.jpg

Prest Lunch & Dinner Cruise.
https://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/71900_491657497789_1878605_n.jpg
Sails down Five Cowrie Creek, Lagos Lagoon, etc.

Five Cowrie Creek
https://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/72718_491165527789_3676714_n.jpg

Five Cowrie Bridge (over Falomo Roundabout)
https://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/67736_488450332789_8095310_n.jpg

Five Cowrie Bridge (1930s). It connects Falomo, Ikoyi with Victoria Island.
[img]http://www.bendav.nl/gif/ebay/1615.jpg[/img]

The old Onikan-Victoria Island Bridge (over Five Cowrie Creek). Note the tracks of the Lagos Steam Tramway

www.nairaland.com/attachments/696707_bridge20to20Victoria20Island_jpg4e5916088e4ee82fbb9579b45dec09e6

Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge
https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/66952_488431317789_6425986_n.jpg

https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/72445_488431712789_5337360_n.jpg

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/687935_IMG00812-20120423-1517_jpgb7ffccf93f20cbb3e7f2aeab021f98fc[/img]

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/687942_IMG00816-20120423-1518_jpgb1417078663c84f7acd3cdc7a0c28b54[/img]

https://i.imgur.com/1ZIAM.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/kXDzA.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/DakS1.jpg

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/868609_IMG01094-20121030-1900_jpg0cf1d89bab096bcaa4c293e16d577b48[/img]

Eko Bridge
https://www.winne.com/nigeria3/images/CR-Photo14.jpg

Ishilove: Yo, remi or whatever your moniker is, go and advertise your SHIIT on someone else's thread!!

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Ishilove: Wow! 1910 you say? Was it a footbridge?

Rail, car and foot bridge.

3rd Mainland Bridge
https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/294056_10150408870757790_1788688699_n.jpg

The (old) Carter Bridge
https://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/308011_10150379240147790_1310964452_n.jpg

JEBBA BRIDGE WITH NEW METAL RAILING REPLACING THE VANDALIZED ALLOY RAILINGS
https://nan.cdn.premiumhost.com.ng/media/BAhbB1sHOgZmSSJTMjAxMS8wOC8zMS8wNS8xNy80NC8yNDkvUElDXzIuX1BJQy5fMi5fSkVCQkFfQlJJREdFX1dJVEhfTkVXX01FVEFMX1JBSUxJTkcuanBnBjoGRVRbCDoGcDoKdGh1bWJJIgk3MjB4BjsGVA/PIC%202.%20PIC.%202.%20JEBBA%20BRIDGE%20WITH%20NEW%20METAL%20RAILING.jpg

The first Niger Bridge at Jebba, constructed by the Shaft & Axletree Company, in 1910.
https://nan.cdn.premiumhost.com.ng/media/BAhbB1sHOgZmSSI7MjAxMS8wOC8xNS8wOS8wNS8zOC85MTYvUElDLjE1Ll9GSVJTVF9KRUJCQV9CUklER0UuanBnBjoGRVRbCDoGcDoKdGh1bWJJIgk3MjB4BjsGVA/PIC.15.%20FIRST%20JEBBA%20BRIDGE.jpg

Niger Bridge
https://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/73254_488434182789_7678903_n.jpg

ITbomb: That picture na since 2006. I believe he is getting uglier or fatter with pot belly now

Ishilove: Cool. That's some 007 shiit right there

√

Ishilove: Tsk tsk, naptu, taking pictures while driving, eh? Lastma must hear this

No crime committed. Latest technology. Glasses mounted camera.

Ajose Adeogun Roundabout
https://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/37162_478811352789_4891538_n.jpg

Ajose Adeogun Roundabout, Victoria Island, Lagos at Christmas
https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/34405_477804147789_6496434_n.jpg

https://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/40886_477804402789_4175671_n.jpg