The Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Management Board has announced plans to inaugurate the newly redeveloped Remembrance Arcade and Independence Garden in October as part of efforts to preserve Nigeria’s national heritage and promote civic and cultural events.
The Managing Director of the TBS Management Board, Lucia Shittu, disclosed this in an interview with The Source. She said the redevelopment project is designed not only to beautify the historic grounds but also to restore TBS as a central hub for tourism, heritage preservation, and civic engagement.
“This initiative is not simply about beautification but about preserving Nigeria’s history and cultural memory,” Shittu said. “TBS has long been a symbolic space where our founding fathers—Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo—played significant roles in the story of Nigeria. By redeveloping the grounds, we want to ensure that future generations can connect with that heritage.”
As part of the symbolic exercise, Shittu revealed that trees will be planted and named after Nigeria’s founding leaders, with their respective state governments participating in the process.
The project is being executed in partnership with Lafarge Africa, which has adopted it under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) portfolio. According to Shittu, Lafarge will deliver the first phase of the park’s redevelopment before October 1, in time for Nigeria’s Independence Day celebrations. However, the official inauguration will take place later in October to accommodate national activities on Independence Day and allow the participation of ministers, corporate partners, and state representatives.
She added that the redevelopment is not profit-driven but focused on creating a world-class heritage and tourism centre. While there may be a minimal fee in the future to support maintenance, the priority remains to give Nigerians and visitors a safe, well-maintained, and secure recreational environment.
Beyond the Independence Garden and Remembrance Arcade, Shittu disclosed that the board is also planning forward-looking projects such as an esports and entrepreneurship skills hub for Nigerian youths, to complement TBS’s heritage role with modern opportunities.
Supporting her statement, the Director of Commercial Services at TBS, Joseph Umar, explained that Lafarge’s intervention is targeted at safeguarding Nigeria’s heritage while boosting tourism. He noted that the Independence Memorial Obelisk, which stands in the garden, is of great symbolic importance.
“The Obelisk marks the very spot where the Union Jack was lowered and Nigeria’s green-white-green flag was hoisted on October 1, 1960. That moment defined our nation’s birth, and the Obelisk continues to stand as a permanent reminder of that transition,” Umar said.
He also highlighted the significance of the Remembrance Arcade, which hosts the statue of the Unknown Soldier and serves as the site of annual wreath-laying ceremonies to honour Nigeria’s fallen heroes.
“Every January, Lagos State officials gather at the Arcade to honour the men and women who paid the ultimate price in service to our country. Our plan is not just to preserve these monuments but also to make the space more engaging and educational,” Umar stated.
According to him, the redesigned site will incorporate historical images, recorded speeches, and digital displays to allow visitors to connect with Nigeria’s past in an interactive way. He added that the project will especially benefit schoolchildren, who will be able to use the grounds as a living classroom where history is experienced rather than only read in textbooks.
“This project is about honour, remembrance, and education,” Umar said. “It is about ensuring that TBS continues to serve as a space where history is not forgotten but celebrated and passed on to future generations.”
The redevelopment is expected to boost Lagos’s profile as a cultural and tourism hub while deepening public appreciation of Nigeria’s history.
