Lagos: After 19 years, Tinubu Square Fountain Park gets facelift

After 19 years of neglect and abandonment, the historic Tinubu Square Fountain Park on Lagos Island has been refurbished and upgraded as part of plans to transform the facility into what its managers describe as Lagos State’s first smart park.

The facility managers, Corner47 Group Limited, unveiled the redevelopment plans during a press briefing at the park on Wednesday.

Chief Executive Officer of Corner47, Gbolahan Ogundimu Odusanya, said the project was designed to restore the dignity of the historic monument while making it safer, more functional, educational and accessible to residents and visitors.

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Odusanya said the initiative was also aimed at supporting Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of a “smart, safe and historic Lagos” and delivering sustainable projects that would benefit the state beyond the current administration.

The fountain was last refurbished in 2007 during the administration of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but subsequently suffered years of neglect, with the surrounding area increasingly exposed to dumping and street trading.

Explaining the motivation behind the redevelopment, Odusanya said the fountain remained an important legacy of the Lagos State Government and deserved to be preserved and properly maintained.

He said rehabilitation work commenced after Corner47 secured the necessary approvals from relevant state agencies.

According to him, the project followed a directive from the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Tokunbo Wahab, for the company to approach the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) for a partnership.

He said LASPARK subsequently granted provisional approval and guided the company through the process of obtaining the required clearances from other government agencies.

Odusanya said the approval process lasted about nine months because of the number of agencies involved, adding that rehabilitation work commenced immediately after the necessary approvals were obtained.

He said the transformation would include improved lighting, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, renovated walkways, seating facilities and round-the-clock security.

The park, he added, would also feature historical displays and signages designed to educate residents, particularly younger Lagosians, about the history of Lagos and the roles of commerce, culture and its people in shaping the city.

“Tinubu Fountain Park is not just a park. It is a monument with historical significance—a place that tells the story of commerce, culture and people that shaped Lagos,” he said.

Odusanya said the approximately 2,000-square-metre facility would also serve as an inclusive public space capable of hosting and supporting activities of the Lagos State Government.

He disclosed that Corner47 was seeking Governor Sanwo-Olu’s approval to engage Nigerian Legionnaires to provide 24-hour security at the facility under its proposed “Operation Dignified Service” initiative.

According to him, the proposal would provide disciplined security personnel for the heritage site while creating dignified employment opportunities for military veterans.

He said Corner47 had initially engaged Kai Marshal for security support, but the organisation indicated that manpower constraints made it difficult to provide dedicated 24-hour coverage for a single heritage site.

On street trading around the facility, Odusanya said the company had engaged traders operating on the walkways and informed them that trading on walkways and public spaces was prohibited under Lagos State laws.

He cited provisions of the Lagos State Street Trading and Illegal Market Prohibition Law, 2003; the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Law, 2011; and the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, as legal bases for the restriction.

He appealed to Lagos residents to support the redevelopment, protect the facility and comply with regulations governing the use of public spaces.

Corner47 proposes housing scheme for abandoned buildings

Beyond the fountain park project, Corner47 has proposed the rehabilitation and conversion of abandoned buildings on Lagos Island into housing units.

Odusanya said the company was ready to pilot the initiative with about 50 identified abandoned buildings in areas including Olowogbowo, Oko-Faji, Lafiaji, Epetedo and Okepopo.

He also identified the abandoned NITEL headquarters building in the TBS area and another building on Berkeley Street, opposite Iya Eba, as potential sites for the initiative.

According to him, the proposal would involve verification, minor rehabilitation and professional facility management of the buildings.

He said the initiative could provide thousands of housing units within six to 12 months without requiring new land acquisition, thereby helping to ease pressure on rents.

Odusanya also argued that returning abandoned buildings to productive use would improve security by reducing spaces vulnerable to vandalism and criminal activities.

He proposed that data from the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASSRA) and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) could be leveraged in implementing the initiative.

He said the model would not only convert abandoned properties into productive assets but could also generate employment, rental income and tax revenue for the government.

Odusanya appealed to the state government to allow Corner47 to present a detailed implementation framework to the Ministries of Housing and Justice for consideration.