Brief Historical Background

Historical Background

BACKGROUND DEVELOPMENT
The existence of Ibeju Lekki local government could be traced back to 1990 during the local government creation exercise by then Nigeria head of state, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. It was one of the four created in Lagos state and one of the two hundred and eighty nine local governments created in the country that year. It is important to state that it was at this time that nine new states were created in the country. The seat of the Ibeju Lekki local government was originally at Akodo before the recent Lekki local council development area was carved out, which necessitated the moving of the seat of government to the present Igando Oloja location.

The name of the local government is derived from two autonomous communities, Ibeju and Lekki. It was originally tucked within the old Epe local government. Prior to creation,Ibeju Lekki was treated as a backwater suburb to the Epe central and north. This veritably explains the slow pace of development in the area.
From 1990, there was an upsurge in the development rate of the area reflected in the presence of economic and infrastructure development of the area. Thus in just few years of its existence and creation, Ibeju Lekki local government has ably put in place facilities and infrastructures to enhance the socio-economic development activities in the area.

LOCATION AND SIZE
Ibeju Lekki is located at approximately latitude 4015'north latitude 4017' north and longitude 13015' east and 13020' east. It is bounded in the north by Ogun state and in the west by Eti-Osa local government. It is bounded in the east by Epe local government and its southern ends join it to the Atlantic Ocean.

It is about 75 kilometers long and about 20 kilometers at its widest point. Suffice to say, that Ibeju Lekki local government land area is about 646 kilometers square, equals one quarter of the total land mass of Lagos state. Hence, it is regarded as the fastest growing local government area in Africa and the future of Lagos state


MAP OF IBEJU AGBEDUWA KINGDOM

VEGETATION AND SOIL
The local government is located along the coastal plain of Nigeria. The entire area is below sea level and only at a few places does the land rise above sea level. The soil is sandy around the coastal part, while some area on mud except in few places, the entire local government is swampy.

Geologically, recent sedimentary layer underlies the local government. The sedimentary rock of alluvial materials is sandy, muddy and unconsolidated. There are many rivers, creeks and lagoons. The rivers are mainly the distributaries of river Oshun and Ome. The lagoons have permitted the development of sand bars and lagoon islands such as Arapagi, Ita-Oko and refugee islands.

The local government is also covered with mangrove forest at the northern part. Herbs are the most common plants with generous presences of palm and coconut trees. In recent time, much of the vegetation had been cleared. Patches of vegetation especially around Awoyaya down to Ibeju could only be seen. Along the west, however, there is thin vegetation because large traits of land are rising just above the sea level.

POPULATION AND TRIBE
The people are mainly Ijebu speaking who have settled in the local government in several autonomous communities. Some of the prominence communities include: Abijo, Awoyaya, Eputu, Lakowe, Bogije, Sapati, Igando-Oloja, Ibeju Lekki, Arapagi, oke-odo Elemoro, Akodo, Magbon-Alade, Eleko, Debojo, Solu-Alade, Iwerekun, Mopo, e.t.c. In all, there are on hundred and fifty five towns and villages here. There are now many other people from different parts of the country and the world residing and developing in the local government area.