Banana Island, an artificial island in Lagos in Nigeria, often called a Billionaires Haven is a place where the most expensive and luxurious mansions are located. Banana Island was created to attract attention to the country, like the famous Palm Island in the UAE. The cost of a plot of land in Banana Island in Lagos runs into hundreds of millions of naira. The properties on this island are usually sold for billions of naira. Celebrities, business moguls, politicians are known to live in Banana Island. They can afford them as their estimated net worth runs into millions of dollars.
We are not focussing much on details of the island but the residents instead. To have more insight about this crème de la crème residential/industrial area, read here:
Nigerians who live on Banana Island include a growing list of prominent Nigerians and expatriates who have incredibly deep pockets and can afford to spend millions of dollars on a property. Below is a list of 9 prominent Nigerians who live on Banana Island as well as those who own properties on it.
- Linda Ikeji
Linda is Nigeria’s celebrated and most popular blogger. Her home is currently valued at N800 million. Her home is unarguably the most talked-about property on Banana Island owing to her status as a celebrity blogger. Over the past few years, her net worth has been a subject of heated debate. In 2012, her blog was worth $1.2 million. In 2015, her net worth was estimated to be 10 billion Naira Her blog currently enjoys a daily visit of between 100,000 to 250,000 visits from over 180 countries. She has been one of Nigeria’s highest paid blogger for years.
- Kola Abiola
The son of the slain businessman, politician, publisher and winner of the 1993 presidential elections in Nigeria, M.K.O Abiola. Kola Abiola is one of Nigeria’s low-key millionaires. He is largely regarded as being socially invisible and this stems from the low profile he has maintained over the years. His net worth has never been successfully estimated given his extremely private life and business dealings. His presence as a resident of Banana Island doesn’t come as a surprise. The chunk of his wealth is believed to have been inherited from his father.
- Iyabo Obasanjo
Yes! Iyabo Obasanjo, the daughter of Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo also resides on Banana Island. She was elected to the Nigerian Senate representing Ogun Central Senatorial District of Ogun State. She survived an assassination attempt in 2003 and is known for her political ambition and affiliations.
- Mike Adenuga
As an entrepreneur and billionaire owner of Globacom, Nigeria’s second-largest telecom company, Mike Adenuga is a man with luxurious tastes. He has an estimated net worth of $4.1 billion and the figures continue to soar. The source of his wealth has been easily traced to his business dealing in the telecom and oil sector. His company, Globacom has over 27 million subscribers, which makes it the second largest telecom company in Nigeria.
- Sayyu Dantata
Sayyu Dantata is the son of Alhassan Dantata who was the wealthiest man in Africa at the time he passed away in 1955. He is the Founder and CEO of MRS Holdings Ltd (Formerly, MRS Group). He began his career as Director of the Engineering and Transport Division of Dangote Group, considered the Largest Nigerian conglomerate. Dantata serves as a Director of Hydro Alternative Energy, Inc. and has been a Non-Executive Director of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited since August 2008. He is a seasoned Mechanical Engineer by training at the Morris Brown College Atlanta- Georgia, USA and owns a property on the prestigious Banana Island. Did you know that Dantata and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote are cousins?
- Diezani Alison-Madueke
Nigerian is a Nigerian politician and the first female President of OPEC. She owns a property on Banana Island that has been the subject of very many controversies. She was accused of organising a diversion of $6 billion (N1.2 trillion) from the Nigerian treasury and was arrested in London in 2015. Diezani was charged with responsibility for $20 billion missing from the Petroleum agency. She was also accused of awarding multi-billion Naira contracts without recourse to due process. Diezani was, however, not officially charged or tried for these allegations and has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Bola Ahmed Tinubu popularly known as Jagaban is a former Lagos State Governor (1999-2007) and astute politician. He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and has been said to have a net worth of N10 trillion. He has been tagged the most successful politician in Lagos State. Tinubu owns a growing list of properties in Lagos (over 22) and Abuja including his property on Banana Island.
- Aliko Dangote
Nigerian billionaire, Aliko Dangote owns the Dangote Group, which has interests in commodities. Dangote has been repeatedly listed by Forbes for his wealth. Aliko Dangote is widely known for his staggering wealth. and was honoured by the Federal Government of Nigeria with the title of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger. Dangote was hurled into prominence when Forbes listed him as one of the richest men in the world. This started in 2009 and he has gone on to be named the richest man in Africa; year after year. He also owns a property on Banana Island, which explains his inclusion on this list.
- Tundun Abiola
She is the daughter of late Chief M.K.O Abiola. She lived in the United States for many years before finally relocating to Nigeria. Tundun leads a largely quiet lifestyle with the exception of rare appearances at social events. She is a lawyer by training and had cut her teeth in the legal profession by working at the famous FRA Williams chamber before going on to work with Senator Gbemi Saraki as her legislative assistant.
