In the early 20th century, Lagos Marina stood at the center of colonial life in Nigeria. Stretching from Customs Street to Christ Church Street, this waterfront area became the ceremonial and administrative core of colonial Lagos. What we see in early images from circa 1901 is more than an urban view, it’s a record of a city reshaping under British rule.
A Colonial Engine on the Lagoon
Located along the Lagos Lagoon, the Marina served as a major landing site for ships. British vessels arrived with cargo, passengers, and mail, and with them came new laws, goods, and imperial ambition. At the western edge stood the Customs House, a vital structure that collected duties and monitored trade. This symbolized Lagos’s role as a booming commercial center under the British Protectorate, officially declared in 1900.
Commerce and Power in Stone
By 1901, the Marina was home to some of the colony’s most important buildings. Large warehouses, shipping offices, and financial institutions lined the route. Notable among them were Elder Dempster, UAC, and the Bank of British West Africa, which would later become First Bank of Nigeria. These companies were not only centers of profit, they shaped the city’s layout, culture, and economy.
Movement and Growth: The Steam Tramway
In 1902, Lagos launched a steam-powered tramway. The tram connected the Marina to Iddo and other important points. Goods and passengers moved quickly through the city. Alongside the tracks, horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians created a lively street scene. The Marina became both a transit hub and a symbol of colonial modernity.
A City of Many Peoples
Lagos in 1901 was a layered society. British officials lived there, as did Saro (returnees from Sierra Leone), Aguda (Brazilian returnees), and indigenous Yoruba people, especially the Awori. These groups lived in different neighborhoods, but the Marina brought them together. The Brazilian returnees added new styles to the city’s look, houses with arched verandahs, stucco walls, and central courtyards.
Cathedral on the Coast
At the far end of the Marina stood Christ Church Cathedral. First built in 1869, the Anglican cathedral was rebuilt in later decades in the Gothic Revival style. It overlooked the water and marked the city’s blend of trade and religion. The church stood not only as a place of worship but also as a colonial monument.
From Work to Leisure
As the sun set in 1901, the Marina transformed. In the evenings, the street filled with colonial officers, African elites, clerics, and businessmen. It became a place to walk, meet, and talk. In later years, shops like Kingsway and Leventis opened nearby, laying the foundation for modern Lagos retail culture. Kingsway would even install the city’s first escalator decades later.
By Independence: A City Reborn
By the time Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the Marina had already played many roles, trade center, cultural meeting point, architectural showcase, and colonial power base. It remained a major avenue, lined with buildings that told the story of how Lagos became a global city.
Legacy
Today, the stretch from Customs House to Christ Church Street still holds echoes of its colonial past. The Marina is more than a road, it is a historical landscape. It tells how British imperialism, African resilience, international trade, and urban life shaped Lagos into what it is today
