By Peter Dansu The age-old debate over the location of Nigeria’s first storey building—whether it stands in Badagry or Calabar—may finally...
By Peter Dansu
Speaking in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph correspondent Clement James, Stephen, who also serves as Assistant Director of Archaeology and Ethnography at the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, shed light on the historical rivalry between the two coastal towns, both of which played pivotal roles in Nigeria's colonial and slave trade history.
“History, as important and significant as it is, can also be contradictory,” Stephen said. “People often tell stories that suit their local environments. Both Calabar and Badagry are coastal towns with seaports, and both were major points of activity during the slave trade era.”
He explained that while the slave trade was prominent in both regions, the real connection to early European influence and settlement is what fuels the debate over the first storey building. According to him, the architecture and historical sites in both towns bear witness to their early interactions with European missionaries and traders.
“In Badagry, you have the Slave Route Museum. In Calabar, we have the Slave Trade Museum at Marina Resort,” he noted. “The Europeans moved primarily by sea, and they established settlements in strategic coastal towns like these. That’s why you’ll find old colonial buildings in both locations.”
However, when pressed to definitively state where the first storey building in Nigeria is located, Stephen offered a cautious but telling response.
“Well, from findings, the first storey building was either that of Badagry or Marina, all in Lagos,” he said.
Though his statement leaves room for further interpretation, it leans toward Badagry’s claim. Historically, the building often cited as Nigeria’s first storey structure is the one in Badagry, constructed in 1845 by missionaries of the Church Missionary Society. The Calabar Marina, however, also hosts colonial-era buildings dating back to the late 19th century.
In the end, Stephen's reflections may not completely end the debate, but they provide valuable context. What remains undisputed is the vital role both Calabar and Badagry played in shaping the historical and architectural heritage of Nigeria.
As the conversation around Nigeria’s colonial legacy continues, perhaps the bigger story is not about which town was “first,” but how both helped shape the nation’s early encounters with the world. However, there seems to be no controversy between Marina (Lagos) and Badagry regarding the host of the first storey building in Nigeria, as the Lagos State Government recognizes Badagry’s as the first.
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