Nigerian billionaire and socialite, Terry Waya, says he was the one who discovered Banana Island, an artificial island situated in Lagos state. Terry
Nigerian billionaire and socialite, Terry Waya, says he was the one who discovered Banana Island, an artificial island situated in Lagos state. Terry Waya brought the revelation to light in a recent interview with BBC.
He said he got wind of the project when he visited the office of Abdulkarim Adisa, a general and ex-minister for works then, who was his friend. The billionaire business man from Benue state disclosed that during his exchange with Adisa, he discovered the government was looking for a partner with whom it would develop the project with before selling it out.
The 55-year-old said he had indicated interest and requested if the project could be awarded to him which was granted. Waya explained that after he was awarded the project, he brought in Chagoury Group, a multinational company, to execute the contract.
“That Banana Island was given to me. Not many people know that I discovered that Banana Island. I brought Chagoury to do the project. Nobody knew that there was a Banana Island there. One day, I visited one of my closest friends called General Adisa who was the minister of works at the time.
“I then, saw a big poster behind him with the words Banana Island. I asked him about it and he said that they were looking for a partner to do the work and then sell the land together. He said that the government will have their share and the partners too will have their share. I told him I was interested and he said no problem. And that was how Banana Island came to live.”
The billionaire added that he had inspired several of such projects in the country, which remain unknown to the public.
