By Francis Ajuonuma
There’s renewed hope and excitement surrounding the Ilubirin Foreshore Housing Project as the Lagos State government and its private sector partners have reaffirmed their commitment to delivering the iconic waterfront development by December 2026.
Located on a vast 27-hectare stretch of land on Lagos Island, the Ilubirin project is designed as a vibrant mixed-use community that blends living, working, and leisure—all in one scenic location by the lagoon.
Lagos State Commissioner for Housing Moruf Akinderu-Fatai gave this assurance on Wednesday during a media tour of the project site. He acknowledged that while many Lagosians may think work has stalled, significant progress is now being made behind the scenes.
“When you pass through from the estuary, it may seem like nothing is happening, but as you can see today, a lot is going on,” the Commissioner said. “We are here to extract a renewed commitment from the developers and to support them so we can deliver the first phase—about 200 units—by 2026.”
He explained that significant infrastructure challenges, particularly those related to drainage and access roads, have been addressed. Plans are also underway to construct a dedicated bridge that will ease access to the development.
The Commissioner described Ilubirin as a “walk, live, and play” community featuring residential apartments, recreational spaces, and even a hotel, noting that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains deeply passionate about the project and committed to seeing it come to life.
Mr Adebisi Adebutu, Managing Director of First Investment Development Company (FIDC), which is executing the project in partnership with Ibile Holdings (the investment arm of the state), confirmed that the development would deliver nearly 3,000 housing units upon completion, with buildings rising to 15 and 20 floors.
According to Adebutu, the site had to be extensively prepared due to its initial position below sea level. “We brought in close to a million cubic meters of sand to raise the land and ensure it is flood-proof for the next 100 years,” he explained.
To reduce costs and shield the project from exchange rate fluctuations, Adebutu said FIDC has embraced a highly localised construction model.
“We manufacture most of our doors, windows, and furniture on-site. Even the tiles and stones we’re using are sourced and cut locally,” he said.
He praised Nigeria’s natural resources, saying, “There’s no state in Nigeria that doesn’t have stone—we just need to cut and use it creatively.”
The Ilubirin district is being developed by Ilubirin Foreshore Projects Limited, with architectural designs by globally respected firms SAOTA and ECAD and urban design by GAPP. Construction work is being handled by Arbico, one of Nigeria’s leading engineering companies.
As work accelerates, optimism is growing that Ilubirin will soon emerge as a shining example of modern waterfront living in Lagos. And if the renewed energy on-site is anything to go by, December 2026 may mark the dawn of a new lifestyle destination on the Lagos skyline.
