News
Eko Atlantic City: The Making of a Smart City
Technology is changing the way humans live and interact with things around them. However, cities have also adopted technology in the provision of infrastructure making them smart.
A smart city is an urban area that uses different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect data. Insights gained from that data are used to manage assets, resources and services efficiently; in return, that data is used to improve the operations across the city.
This represents what Eko Atlantic city stands for compared to other emerging cities in Nigeria. Eko Atlantic is located in Victoria Island at the side of reclaimed land of Atlantic Ocean.
David Frame, managing director, Eko Atlantic recently gave insight on the infrastructure provided at the city that makes is different from other cities in the country and compared to cities alike in Dubia and United States.
Reacting to issues around its status as wholly smart city, Frame said: “What we have installed on all the walk ways on either sides of the road is a network of ducts where we are installing fiber optic cable. What has been happening in the last five years in Lagos is where people are digging trenches and putting cables. We have fore seen that need and from the beginning when we were developing this infrastructure we were installing those ducts.
“On the main roads we have ducts of nine pipes 10cm down pipes you can put all telecommunications fibre optic cables within those ducts to connect every building to the network.
“That provides many opportunities to develop smart engineering especially for security. We have been in discussion with two major international companies that provide these kinds of facilities to their clients and these people have designed. For example, the smart network in Dubia, Singapore, various governments in Europe and United States. These are the calibre of people we are talking to.
“Once you have these fibre optic cables in place, there are mirage of opportunities to utilize those cables to create smart city concept. The more you talk to people the more magnetic concept they can come forward with, for the fact that we already have those cables in place what I called the infrastructure for the smart city concept there is no limit to what they can do.
All those cables are installed below ground, they are not above ground where they could be affected by storms, vandalism you name it. They are secured and fibre optic cables have a huge capacity for transmitting data, this is full proof system for development of smart city concept for many decades to come. David spoke further on some areas of concern to prospective investors in Eko Atlantic city:
The Possibility of Earthquake Occurring
We engaged with international consultants and there is one thing in particular that will never occur in West Africa and that is tsunami. If you study the concept of Tsunami you will be told about Pacific Rim.
Tsunami occurs in the pacific, 98 per cent of tsunami is generated in that region; you do not have tsunami at the Atlantic Ocean. And that is what we have out there and there has never been Tsunami in West Africa to eliminate any thought you may have on Tsunami.
In a similar way, earthquakes occur where you have what they called unstable taconic place which in turns generate Tsunami waves. There is no record of earthquakes occurring in West Africa and it is not likely to happen.
Deployment of Infrastructure at Eko Atlantic
The bulk of the work is done in installation of the facility in the first place; maintenance is a minor issue, once you have put in place a well -built system. From maintenance point of view, we have no issues. We have developed up to 50 per cent of the infrastructure for the entire city. We have completed roads or walk- ways, all those utility services are in-place already even now that development of the place is coming up.
Since the beginning of this year we have been witnessing increased interest from developers to physically come in to develop their lands. That is very encouraging. To develop a city of this nature takes a long time. Eko Atlantic is not a sprint; it is a marathon.
To develop a city of this size of 10 square kilometer of land which is 1 ½ times the size of Victoria Island is not easy. You don’t develop something of the nature in few minutes. We are still working through because we have a good financial model and have that commitment to finish this project.
A lot of the buildings under construction will be coming on stream by the end of this year. The Azuri project towers will be finished by the end of this year. We have couple of towers that are together; two of the towers have been completed and occupied. We have office towers the first building to be finished in Eko Atlantic, which is coming up to six years since completed. Things are happening in the City.
Distortions in the Master plan
We don’t permit any kind of distortion of the Master plan. We have developed planning regulations which are in-line with international standards. We looked at planning regulations from New York, Los Angeles, Sydney in Australia, UK and Singapore. And we put those ideas together and designed a well standard planning regulation, we then discussed it with ministry of Physical planning in Lagos state, and they have accepted the standard that we are imposing in the regulations which is even more conservative than their own.
They are happy with those regulations that we imposed. When those regulations are applied strictly, every development is built to international standard as well as designed to international standard, which is how we control the development.
We have business district known as Eko Bully bared which is the main street of the financial business district, it is equivalent of 5th Avenue in New York, it has five wider walk-ways than we have in 5th Avenue, on the other side, we are expecting structures of 30-35 storey buildings.
Eko Atlantic is designed to accommodate 300,000 permanent residents and 250,000 visitors. We have largest shopping hall project in sub-Saharan Africa. We have tree nursing in Lekki that can accommodate 250,000 trees; we grow them till they are 3 to 4 years old when we bring them and plant at the City. All the trees you see here were planted four years ago.
We have canal channelled into the city which made it possible for water transport system in the city. There are more than 100,000 people using Lagos state water taxi scheme and it is expanding.
One thing about this location which is unique is that there is no landmass between Eko Atlantic city and Argentina which means there is no human living there, there is no pollution. This is clean fresh ozone reach air coming out from the sea. You can feel that breeze 24/7, 365 days a year. Any pollution in the air is blow away.
People who are living in the city of Eko Atlantic today who regularly walk around will tell you after a number of months sleeping here that they appreciate the clean fresh air.
Building in Eko Atlantic Compared to Banana Island
Development of residential towers in Banana Island for instance, a 12 storey building requires piling down to 58 meters, this is because Victoria Island and Ikoyi are reclaimed lands on swamp, and swampy material is the worst material for foundation.
In Eko Atlantic a 32 storey building requires 34 meters of pile; the saving in the pilling alone in Eko Atlantic is enough to compensate the difference in the cost of the land. We need to take those things into consideration.
The other thing is developing in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, you need standby generator, Bore hole, water treatment plant, septic tank all those cost don’t apply at Eko Atlantic.
We have what we call connect and play as we have a chamber where you can connect your cable, we have a chamber where you can connect for your water supply, we have another chamber where you can connect your swage another one for the storm drainage among others.
Your Fibre optic cable is all there at the edge of your block. You need to look at the big picture. The difference in the cost of acquiring land is only part of the equation you have to look at the other factors involved. When you factor all these add-on cost you have to pay in Victoria Island and Ikoyi, you actually find that cost of development in Eko Atlantic is actually cheap.
All the utilities you have to provide are already here, apart from the fact that your planning cost alone is considerable savings. 58 meters with 12 story building and 34 meters for 32 story building.
Electricity
At the moment we are working on a scheme that we are bringing power in through a power station at Lekki. More so, we have a license from Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to generate power and a license to distribute power within the city, so we are working on that also.
At the moment we are working on small generators when SAT comes into place we will have access to 75MW of electricity. The eventual plan is that at the end of the project in phase six we will have our own generating plant that is going to generate 750 mega watts or more that’s when the city is substantially developed.
Bank of Industry (BoI) and MTN Nigeria Foundation have launched a N1 billion Y’ellopreneur 3.0 Matching Fund to support women-owned businesses across Nigeria.
The fund was launched at the official unveiling of the BOI–MTN Foundation Y’ellopreneur 3.0 Matching Fund held in Lagos.
Dr Olasupo Olusi, managing director of BoI, said the initiative reflects a shared commitment to entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment.
Represented by Oluwatoyin Edu, executive director, MSMEs, Olusi, said the partnership has grown from a N100 million youth programme in 2018 to a N1 billion fund, financed equally by both institutions.
“Today, we are pleased to deepen this collaboration with the launch of the N1 billion Y’ellopreneur 3.0 Matching Fund.
“This programme aligns strongly with BoI’s 2025–2027 strategy for enterprise development and economic transformation,” he said.
Olusi said 1,000 women entrepreneurs would receive structured training, while 200 women-led MSMEs would access loans of up to N5 million each.
The BoI boss added that the programme targets sectors including agro-processing, light manufacturing, fashion, energy, waste management and digital services.
Mrs Mosun Belo-Olusoga, chairman of MTN Nigeria Foundation, said the initiative highlighted women’s critical role in economic development.
According to her, the foundation now treats women’s empowerment as central to nation-building, rather than a corporate social responsibility obligation.
Belo-Olusoga said over 5,700 women had been trained, with the programme designed to bridge economic gaps limiting women’s participation.
“This fund provides equipment financing, enabling women to transition from small-scale operations to industrial-level businesses,” she said.
She stressed the need for greater awareness, especially in rural communities, to ensure inclusiveness.
Mrs Odunayo Sanya, executive director of the foundation, said the initiative combined capacity building with access to capital.
Sanya said beneficiaries would undergo a five-week training programme by Pan-Atlantic University Enterprise Development Centre, ending with business growth plans.
She said the foundation aimed to build 30,000 female-led businesses in five years, with 10,000 expected to receive funding.
“We believe this partnership with BoI opens the door to scaling women-owned businesses through working capital and equipment financing,” she said.
Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of Lagos State governor, described the initiative as timely in tackling unemployment and unlocking women’s economic potential.
Represented by Mrs Oyinlola Agoro, she said equipping women with skills, mentorship and planning tools is vital for resilient enterprises.
Sanwo-Olu commended earlier phases, which trained over 5,700 women and supported 122 beneficiaries with equipment.
“This shows that when women are empowered, families thrive, communities prosper and the economy grows stronger.
“The N1 billion matching fund will deepen financial inclusion and promote women-led enterprises,” she said.
She reaffirmed her commitment to initiatives promoting women’s empowerment, economic independence and inclusive development.
News
NSIA Sign MoU with UK’s Asset Green Ltd to Develop $496M Integrated Dairy Livestock Production Platform in Nigeria
The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UK‑based Asset Green Ltd to advance the development of a large‑scale integrated dairy livestock production and processing platform set to transform Nigeria’s dairy industry and strengthen national food security.
Signed on Tuesday in London ahead of the State Visit, the MoU outlines the framework for collaboration and the project‑development cost commitments leading up to the formal shareholders’ agreement.
This initiative represents one of the most ambitious integrated dairy investments ever undertaken in Nigeria. It will combine 20,000 hectares of climate‑smart, regenerative crop and forage production with a modern 10,000‑milking cow dairy operation, supported by a state‑of‑the‑art processing plant capable of producing fresh milk, milk powders, butter, cream, and up to 15,000 metric tonnes of infant formula annually.
Designed to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported milk powder, the project will modernise agricultural practices, improve nutrition, and integrate up to 10,000 rural households into the supply chain through inclusive out‑grower schemes. Once operational, the platform is expected to generate over US$620 million annually and create 2,500 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs nationwide.
British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, said: “Over a decade ago, the UK provided pivotal support to Nigeria in establishing the NSIA, offering legal and financial expertise that helped lay the foundation for its successful launch and strengthening its governance and credibility.
“That early institutional investment has paid dividends, helping to build a resilient Nigerian institution capable of creating jobs and driving transformational, long‑term development.
“The NSIA and Asset Green partnership is a powerful example of how that groundwork continues to deliver impact – a full‑circle moment that reflects the long-term economic cooperation between the UK and Nigeria and the shared commitment to deepening sustainable, private‑sector‑driven growth.”
NSIA Managing Director & CEO, Aminu Umar‑Sadiq, said: “NSIA is pleased to partner with Asset Green on this transformative investment. With a project size of almost US$500 million, this is one of the most ambitious initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s food and nutrition security in a generation.
“By combining climate‑smart farming, advanced processing capacity, and inclusive out‑grower participation, we are laying the foundation for a modern, competitive dairy sector that reduces import dependence, creates meaningful jobs, and delivers long‑term value for Nigerians.”
Asset Green Ltd Director & Agrium Capital Ltd CEO, Rod Bassett, said: “This partnership between NSIA and Asset Green is the business and investment innovation required to unlock the potential of the agriculture sector in Nigeria, with the development of such a future (dairy) food system.
“The foundation of the approach is one of collaborating with NSIA and their shared vision and purpose to establish a platform to catalyse the development of such a national strategic priority. We are incredibly proud to partner with Nigeria’s premier investment institution.
“The development of greenfield projects have consistently played a major role in our history, establishing industries or nurturing young businesses that are able to deliver catalytic transformation.
This US$500 million greenfield investment in Nigeria’s dairy industry allows for the development of advanced and necessary infrastructure spanning the full production and supply system to enhance local production, reduce the reliance on the huge imports of dairy goods into Nigeria, deliver environmental services and strengthen national food sovereignty and nutritional resilience.”
In March 2026, Kaspersky Threat Research has identified a new malicious campaign targeted at developers looking for installation instructions for Claude Code, a development agent created by Anthropic. When searching for “Claude Code download”, sponsored advertisements appear at the top of the search results.
One of these ads redirects users to a malicious webpage that closely imitates the official installation documentation for Claude Code. As a result, users are tricked into installing malware which harvests sensitive information including credentials, crypto wallet data, browser sessions, and other confidential files. Similar malicious campaigns mimic other popular AI tools, including OpenClaw.
The fake documentation page is visually identical to the legitimate one and is hosted on the website-building and hosting platform Squarespace. Because the page precisely copies the original instructions, users may not notice the difference when copying and executing installation commands.
However, instead of installing the developer tool, the commands deliver malware to the victim’s system. Depending on the operating system, the malicious commands deploy different infostealers:
. Windows systems receive Amatera, an information-stealing malware that collects data from user directories, web browsers, and cryptocurrency wallets before sending the stolen information to a remote server. Amatera has previously been observed in campaigns using the ClickFix distribution technique and is operated under a Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) model.
. macOS systems receive AMOS, another infostealer previously documented in several malware campaigns targeting Apple devices. It has been described by Kaspersky before.
Kaspersky researchers also identified similar malicious campaigns targeting other popular AI tools, including OpenClaw and Doubao. Using the same approach, attackers registered multiple domains and distributed files containing the Amatera infostealer while disguising them as legitimate downloads for these tools.
“The campaign poses significant risks because AI development tools such as Claude Code and OpenClaw are widely used not only by hobbyists and automation enthusiasts but also by professional developers working in large organisations.
If infected, victims may unknowingly expose source code from active projects, confidential corporate data, authentication credentials, and private accounts. This makes such campaigns particularly dangerous for businesses whose developers rely on AI-assisted coding tools,” comments Vladimir Gursky, cybersecurity expert at Kaspersky.
In December 2025, Kaspersky detected that attackers spread a macOS infostealer using Google Ads. A specially generated chat interface designed to resemble a ChatGPT tutorial pretended to guide users through installing the Atlas Browser. The malicious instructions appeared to be hosted on a legitimate site associated with OpenAI, helping attackers gain users’ trust.
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