SPOTLIGHT ON SURULERE

Surulere Local Government, created on August 27, 1999, from the defunct Mainland Local Government, is a residential and commercial district, with an area of about 27 square kilometres. The opening up of Surulere, with the urban renewal scheme by the Lagos State Government, has given residential and commercial users the freedom to draw more business practitioners and real estate developers into the area.

   TODAY, Surulere is practically a cosmopolitan city within a city. Considered as Nigeria’s foremost sports city in terms of maintaining its strong business and sporting portfolio, Surulere excels in headline-grabbing superlatives: such as the most resilient community, with a long-established perception as home to Governor Babatunde Fashola, unrivalled access to a host of sporting facilities, including the hosting of the All Africa games and the Under 17 World cup, a good road and security network and a fast track business climate that is improving steadily. Let’s leave those other elements of Surulere (the atrocities of the Star Boys from Aguda, etc.), that we cannot market, on the shelf.

   Throughout the city, if you look beyond the menace of armed robbery, car jacking and gang warfare, you will see why its famous for preserving the past and embracing the future. This transformation is strikingly apparent at Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall, a shopping complex situated west of the National Arts Theatre. The new complex, home to the Shoprite food chain, is now expanding as one of Nigeria’s shopping hubs. And you can see it in the distinctive neighbourhoods, where the security of lives and property is improving by the day.

   WELCOME TO SURULERE

   Referred to as ‘‘The New Lagos’’ of yester years, Surulere provides a welcoming and relaxing environment which can be enjoyed by all. And no matter how many times you drive through, you will never tire of seeing the beautiful images of paved roads, parks, bridges and street lights as you experience one of the most attractive destinations in Lagos. Would-be residents and corporate executives looking to locate or expand an existing business - Surulere is waiting to welcome them with an unbridled Nigerian spirit.

LIFESTYLE

   In addition, Surulere’s lifestyle is a unique mix of culture and architecture, along with  trendy shops and eateries. You can probably do everything you need to do in one visit. From jogging, shopping and indulging in some true outdoor activities in and around the National Stadium, to destress from the urban environment.

   After the day’s work, Surulere’s bars and restaurants provides the perfect place to bump into a Nollywood star or meet friends over a drink or dinner. Frankly, Surulere is enjoying the longest run of economic growth in its history, in terms of sales of property and social infrastructure, and there are no signs that this remarkable progress is coming to an end anytime soon.

   Thus, investors and real estate developers are entering into taIks and battling to own a piece of the action in Surulere. Presently, demand is strong for private and business spaces in Surulere. This property boom is alive and kicking, to the extent that it has become the “nimble sprinter” among re-discovered markets.

CHALLENGES

   While some residents and property owners in Surulere are only too happy to tell others just what it is that makes their treasured community special, the cases of car theft, thuggery and armed robbery attacks on other residents, have discouraged interest in Surulere, albeit, counter measures such as improved stand-by Rapid Response Squad, including police presence in key areas, have been put in place to repel undesirable elements and forestall any further incidence of armed attacks.

   Nonetheless, more people are moving into Surulere compared to those, unable to keep to the standards and its lifestyle who are moving out. However, for all the progress it has made, Surulere like other communities in Lagos, suffers from adequate power supply, a responsive police force and a functional fire service.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

While we are on the subject of challenges, let’s not overlook the most important establishments that dot the landscape in Surulere today. Police stations, Chinese restaurants, a few gyms, swimming pools, hotels, saloons, barber shops, a lot of religious centres, hospitals and twenty-four hour walk-in-clinics.

The community is blessed with its high speed internet cafes, functional travel services; public schools and high tech schools meant for those who can afford the training because of the superfluous cost.

In addition, are PSP waste management, security outfits - such as Crest Security, auto repair centres, car wash and gas stations, banks, bakeries, shopping malls, markets, fire control trucks, Cinema, KFC outlet, laundry services as well as book clubs and nightclubs. This explains why many Nollywood celebrities cash in because Surulere, indeed is in vogue, and has been, pound for pound, a source of great hospitality to the movie industry.

Also, Surulere is seen as a chrystallized status abode for the middle-income earners. The public perception on the community is egalitarian. Invariably, some of the facilities that are not yet in place include; emergency phone booths and electronic bus shelters for commuters.

Yet, while the benefits of sustained, short-term development by the Fashola-led administration are showing in Surulere, a shortage of grade-A housing estates, public transport and extreme poverty, fills your view on the neighbouring highways, as you dare to escape from the trappings of good life in Surulere.

If Surulere will ever be in the spotlight in the foreseeable future, (remember 1004 and how some parts of Jakande, now Nicon town, were taken over and remodelled?), it will surely not be because of local or international events taking place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium or the nearby National Stadium, it will surely be because of a major residential or commercial expansion, development and takeover.

By Oni VINCENT

For THE COMMUNITY Newspaper