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.
