Agbara' The Adeyemi Lawson Grand Dream

AGBARA Estate is a leading new town initiative in the country. It is a model integrated town development on 454.1 hectares of land being managed by AE Property Services Limited, a subsidiary of Lawsons Corporation Nigeria Limited, until recently. It is situated on approximately 31 kilometers west of Lagos, on Lagos-Badagry ExpresswayThe initial intention was to start an industrial estate/layout in an area, located outside Lagos metropolis but within easy reach of the commercial centre, in line with the once popular government's backward integration policy.Consequently, in early 1970s, Chief Adeyemi Lawson, under the auspices of Lawsons and Company Limited, began to purchase lands from the original owners/families/settlers at Agbara village. He later commissioned architects to prepare a feasibility study on a proposal to develop the lands into a comprehensive estate. A masterplan based on the study was prepared and approved by the planning authority.However, in 1976, the Ogun State government compulsorily acquired the entire land spreading over Agbara, Igbesa and Ado-Odo communities, including the 900 hectares owned by Lawsons. The government later considered the resources already committed to the Agbara project; it agreed to lease 454.1 hectares to Lawsons. The leasehold, a term of 99 years in line with terms of certificate of occupancy (C of O) starting from January 1, 1978, was subsequently transferred to Agbara Estates Limited. Recently, the company transferred management to FFF Facilities Limited.Out of the 454.1 hectares ceded to Lawsons, 41.55 per cent (188.289 hectares) was set aside for industrial purpose. The industrial section is divided into northern and southern zones with Beta Glass Nigeria Plc controlling 14.53 hectares, Vitamalt, 14.47 hectares, Pharma Deko factory 2, 2.028 hectares, Nestle, 16.29 hectares, Lotus Plastics, 4.99 hectares, Reckitt Benckiser, 4.04 hectares and DIL/Maltex, 4.437 hectares.Operators in the northern zone are Evans, 8.87 hectares, Unilever, 9.16 hectares, Pharma Deko factory 1, 2.43 hectares, redundant Colodense, 4.41 hectares, GlaxoSmithkline, 9.858 hectares and Cometstar Cables, 3.20 hectares. Other operators in the zone are Pace Factory Ltd, 0.79, Henley Industries (Sodium Silicate), 2.414 hectares and Henley Industries (Lamps Factory), 3.554 hectares.By calculation, the occupants operate on about 105 hectares while the remaining 73 are still virgin. A large portion of the commercial and residential areas is also lying fallow.
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