NIGERIA: Lagos Unveils Revamped BOSKOH Garden, Launches Annual Christmas Lights Tradition

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Lagos State Government has unveiled the newly redeveloped BOSKOH Garden at the State Secretariat, Alausa, alongside the first-ever Christmas Lights Switch-On Ceremony, marking the start of a new annual festive tradition within the public service community.

The project, executed by the Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA), restores a space that once served as a model for environmental sustainability in the Secretariat.

Speaking at the unveiling, the General Manager of LASIAMA, Adenike Adekanbi, said the restoration became necessary after the garden lost its original essence over the years.

She said: “BOSKOH Garden once stood as a reference point for environmental sustainability within the Secretariat. Its gradual decline challenged us to act, and as custodians of public infrastructure, we could not allow such a valuable asset to fade away.”

She explained that the redevelopment was achieved in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK).

Adekanbi added: “Our mandate was clear, to revitalise the garden without compromising its natural ecosystem. We insisted that nature must be respected, which is why the trees around us remain preserved and standing tall.”

Adekanbi noted that the upgraded BOSKOH Garden has been designed as an eco-friendly relaxation space for recreation, quiet meetings and public service engagement.

She added that the Christmas Lights Switch-On will now hold annually, symbolising sustainability and adding festive ambience to the Secretariat.

In a goodwill message, the Special Adviser to the Ministry of Works, Engr. Dr. Olakunke Olayinka, described the redevelopment as “a symbol of government’s efficiency in asset upkeep and a testament to the State’s investment in functional public spaces.”

Unveiling the garden officially, the Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, commended LASIAMA for turning underutilised spaces into civic assets that reflect the administration’s vision for a modern and vibrant Lagos.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Works, Adebayo Ayodeji Odusanya, also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining infrastructure across state facilities.

Located opposite the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, the revamped BOSKOH Garden now features lawn seating, shaded lounges, green walkways and a dedicated “light-up point” that will illuminate the Secretariat every December.

The annual Christmas Lights Switch-On is expected to promote mental wellness, recreation and environmental consciousness within the public service.