Press Releases

Eko Atlantic City Gets Global Reconigtion, Wins CGI Award
…As Gov Fashola restates commitment to safeguard the environment for the Next Generation

Sep 24, 2009 - Global recognition on Thursday came the way of the Eko Atlantic City , the brand new city being developed to combat the effects of climate change through the reclamation of nine square kilometers of land lost over the years to the Atlantic, as the Lagos State Government and its private sector partners on the Project, South Energyx got the Clinton Global Initiative Commitment Certificate.

The Commitment Certificate which was personally received by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola ( SAN) and Chief Executive Officer of South Energyx Nigeria Limited, Mr Ronald Chagoury took place on the third day of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative before the special breakout session with the theme The Infrastructure of Human Dignity: Protecting the Most Vulnerable at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers in New York.

Reading the citation before making the presentation, Mr Nicholas Kristof, a Columnist with The New York Times declared that the Lagos State Government and South Energyx are committed to “combating the devastating effects of climate change by reclaiming nine square Kilometres of land for a new city, Eko Atlantic”.

The citation reads further, “Eko Atlantic will be an environmentally conscious city built with nature, to restore an original coastline and protect Victoria Island , Nigeria from the severe risk of ocean surge and flooding”.

The Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative founded by the 42nd President of the United States, Mr William Jefferson Clinton is a forum dedicated to discussion and collaboration among world leaders, business executives , heads of NGO, philanthropists and other activists to tackle pressing challenges facing the global community.

The Commitments to Action, is a unique feature of CGI membership, aimed at ensuring translation of practical goals into meaningful and measurable results through new, specific, and pragmatic initiatives which vary in size and duration focusing on diverse concerns, regions, and types of activities.

Speaking to members of the international press earlier on Wednesday after visiting the Eko Atlantic City’s stand at the CGI’s Exhibition Centre, Governor Fashola had reiterated the commitment of the Lagos State Government to deliver a safe environment to the next generation.

According to the Governor who visited the stand shortly on his arrival to New York , the participation of the Government through the Eko Atlantic City project and his personal attendance of the CGI Annual Meeting were a practical demonstration of the commitment to protect lives and property.

“The coastal erosion challenge of Lagos State today is a fall out of the increasing threat to the environment , climate change, rising water levels and as a coastal city we remain absolutely committed to ensure that we safeguard the future for the next generation. That is the importance of our commitment. lt is no longer just a promise, it is an unyielding commitment to deliver a safe environment to the generation behind us,” Governor Fashola said.

The Governor while acknowledging the pre-eminence of the CGI as an international forum for discussing issues of the global challenge to the environment commended the private sector partners of Lagos State on the Eko Atlantic City Project, South Energyx for their courage and doggedness in working with the Government to turn “what was an environmental disaster iinto a major asset for Lagos and for Africa.”

According to Governor Fashola, the public private sector partnership exemplified by the project represents the way forward.” Demonstrably government alone have shown that they do not always have all of the resources that they need to deliver on the major challenges that face them – social, infrastructural and so many other challenges that require huge expenditure by the government .Every time there is an opportunity to provide a window where the private sector can move in, invest private capital on a sustainable and commercially rewarding basis, it is the way to go,” Governor Fashola said.

The Governor who was received on his arrival at the Eko Atlantic stand by Executives of South Energyx, Mr Roland Chagoury Jr. and Mr Marc Chagouri, was accompanied by the Honourable Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Muiz Banire and his Water Front and Infrastructure Development counterpart, Prince Adesegun Oniru.