The Banana Island Property Owners & Residents Association (BIPORAL) is under fire following reports that it is restricting the movement of Nigerian workers by requiring them to present a valid LASRRA (Lagos State Resident Registration Agency) card before being granted access to the exclusive Banana Island estate in Lagos State.
This development has sparked widespread concern over what many are calling a discriminatory and potentially unlawful access control measure. Critics argue that the policy disproportionately affects low-income workers, particularly artisans and laborers, in the construction industry, many of whom reside in neighboring states such as Ogun and Oyo, and not within Lagos itself.
Information reaching our newsroom indicates that a formal **notice has been sent to the Attorney General of Lagos State and the Federation**, urging immediate intervention to halt what is being described as an “illegal restriction of movement.” Allegations have also surfaced that **state authorities have set up registration points near the Banana Island gate**, collecting fees from workers under the guise of LASRRA registration.
“This is not just about security; it’s about exclusion,” said a civil rights advocate who asked to remain anonymous. “You cannot deny people access to their place of work simply because they don’t have a residency card, especially when many of them don’t even live in Lagos due to the high cost of living.”
Legal experts are now questioning the **legitimacy of using a state-issued residency card as a gatekeeping tool** for private estates, especially when it affects the livelihoods of thousands of Nigerian workers.
As of press time, **BIPORAL and LASRRA have not issued official statements** regarding the policy or the allegations of financial exploitation and extortion at the estate’s entrance.
This is a developing story.
