Client - Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Legacy Joint Committee.
Location - Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Nigeria
Description
At the invitation of the Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and Legacy Joint Committee, an IRHC team visited Nigeria to conduct an independent assessment of both the Nigeria National Railway Museum’s current situation and of its development potential. The visit was conducted supported by a travel grant from the UK’s Heritage Alliance.
An assessment was also conducted of the condition of each of their surviving steam locomotives. A detailed plan recommending development themes was presented including the following components: develop a high-quality unified railway heritage ‘park’ combining museums, entertainment, educational, research, train ride experience, play, visitor facilities and commercial opportunities, linked by imaginatively utilised outdoor spaces; Jaekel House museum building to potentially become the key ‘corporate’ facility including catering and gift shop opportunities; Ilukwe House to be developed as a research centre, archives and main offices; former Carriage & Wagon Running Shed to become the main exhibition hall for large items, such as locomotives, carriages and freight stock, supported by small object displays, images and interpretative material; creation of a new, dedicated, entrance directly from Murtala Muhammed Way close to the old running shed with suitable welcome and car parking facilities; the enginemen’s accommodation building could become a small guest house; develop a dedicated heritage running line from the Running Shed to Ebute-Metta Station; bring the Signal & Telecommunications Building into museum ownership as a museum store; finally, develop the connecting spaces as railway themed activity areas and events spaces.