With the highest population in Africa today, Nigeria can boast of one of the most economically developed nations in the continent of Africa. In this article, we have made a list of the tallest commercial buildings in Nigeria, and you can find most of them in places like Lagos, Abuja, and probably, Ibadan. Some of them belong to the Federal Government, while others belong to multinational companies and private establishments. Also, some of these buildings have stood the test of time, having been built quite a long time ago, while others are fairly recent. So here, let’s take a quick look at some of the tallest buildings in Nigeria. We hope you’ll find this article not just interesting but also informative and educative.

1. Millennium Tower

• Height: 170m (557.7ft)
• Floors: 42
• Location: Abuja
• Year It was Built: 2015

Standing at 560 feet, Millennium Tower was commissioned in 2016 and remained the tallest building in Nigeria so far. The building was designed by Manfredi Nicolleti and structured to house the Nigerian Cultural Center. There has been no case of fire incidence since its completion.

2. Necom House

• Height: 520
• Floors: 32
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: 1979

Situated at 15 Marina, Victoria Island, Lagos, this gigantic structure towering into the sky topped the tallest building in Nigeria for about four decades before completing the millennium tower. The tower was built to serve as the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) headquarters, now known as Nigerian External Communications (NECOM). The communication spire hanging on the roof of the building also serves as a lighthouse beacon for Lagos Harbor.

3. Eko White Pearl Tower

• Height: 443 ft
• Floors: 31
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: 2017

The White Building was constructed to serve as a residential house for the elite occupants of Eko Atlantic City. With a height of 443 feet, Eko White Pearl Tower is ranked as one of the tallest buildings in Nigeria. The other four skyscrapers within the complex are Aqua Pearl, Indigo Pearl, Eko Black Pearl, and Champagne Pearl.

4. Union Bank Building

• Height: 407 ft
• Floors: 28
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: 1991

With 28 floors above and one floor below, this tower is one of the tallest buildings in Nigeria. It serves as the headquarters of Union Bank Nigeria and is located in Marina, Lagos Island.

5. World Trade Centre (Tower II)

• Height: 390ft
• Floors: 25
• Location: Abuja
• Year It was Built: 2016

WTC Center 2 in Abuja is an abode for many corporate offices. The building is indeed a beautiful sight to behold and aimed to afford the city the luxury of top-notch office spaces. There has also been no record of fire incidence since its completion in 2016. But in 2014, while the building was still under construction, there was a crane mishap that resulted in damaging some part of it, hence, delayed its completion.

6. Eko Tower (II)

• Height: 387 ft
• Floors: 27
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: 2016

Eko Atlantic City seems to be a house for a number of the tallest buildings in Nigeria. One of the buildings that beautify the city, Eko Tower II, was officially completed and commissioned for use in 2016. It is a stand-out structure in the vicinity constructed to soothe the diverse kinds of hotels in the environment.

7. Black Pearl Tower

• Height: 371 ft
• Floors: 27
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: 2017

Another building in the Eko Atlantic City, Black Pearl Tower’s construction took off in 2013 and was completed in 2016. The residential building is a unique structure, beautifies the city, and serves as a valuable property for acquisition. It comprises 25 floors and 120 residential apartments. So far, there has been no kind of disaster or fire incident in the building.

8. World Trade Centre (Tower I)

• Height: 360 ft
• Floors: 24
• Location: Abuja
• Year It was Built: 2016

Among the many world trade centers in Nigeria, the city of Abuja houses the majority of them. The construction of this WTC II began in 2011 and was scheduled to be completed in 2014. However, it lingered until 2016, given the crane slip that destroyed it in 2014. Since after completion, there has not been any further renovation in it.

9. Ministry of Communication Building

• Height: 358 ft
• Floors: 30
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: 1979

The original purpose of this building was to be the headquarters of Nigeria’s postal activities, and it was initially called the NIPOST building. Worthy to note is that it is one of the oldest government constructions in Nigeria, which has not undergone any form of renovations.

10. Cocoa House

• Height: 344 ft
• Floors: 26
• Location: Ibadan
• Year It was Built: 1965

This building was named cocoa House because it was erected with the revenue made from the sale of cash crops such as cocoa, rubber, and timber from the then western state of Nigeria, which had its capital in Ibadan. Besides being one of the tallest buildings in Nigeria, the cocoa house is also known to be the first skyscraper in West Africa. The 26 story building is still standing tall in the commercial city of Ibadan. Meanwhile, in 1985, the building was brought down by a fire outbreak resulting from an electrical malfunction and was shut down for public use until after its renovation in 1992.

11. Intercontinental Hotel

• Height: 344 ft
• Floors: 22
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: 2013

Intercontinental hotel is located at Kofo Abayomi Street – Plot 52, Victoria Island, Lagos, standing tall at the center of Lagos Island. A 22-story building reportedly built at the cost of N30 billion by the Lagos State Government was completed in 2013. The structure comprises iconic Club InterContinental, business and event centers, conference hall and meeting areas, bars and restaurants, exclusive boardrooms, etc.

12. Independence House

• Height: 338 ft
• Floors: 23
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: 1960

The independence house, alternatively called The Ministry of Defense Building, is located on Lagos Island. The construction of the building was concluded in 1960 when Nigeria got its independence from the British colony. Hence, its name independence house was derived. As a result, the 23-story building was commissioned as the first high-rise construction in Nigeria. In 1993, it recorded a fire outbreak that damaged some parts of the building, including the Defense house. It has since been renovated and remains one of the tallest buildings in Nigeria.

13. CBN House

• Height: 330
• Floors: 19
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: 2013

CBN house was completed in 2013 to be the headquarters of all economic affairs going on in the country. It is situated just at the heart of the central business area of Lagos.

14. Great Nigeria House

• Height: 312
• Floors: 22
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: Unspecified

Located at 47/57 Martins Street, Lagos Island, Nigeria, the 22 story building accommodates Main Street Bank of Nigeria, while some other traders use it as a warehouse. In the early hours of Nov 04, 2013, at about 3 am, the house went ablaze, and the fire gutted the first four floors before it was controlled and put out. It is located close to a major market in Lagos, Balogun.

15. CBN Headquarters

• Height: 308 ft
• Floors: 11
• Location: Abuja
• Year It was Built: 2002

Located at the heart of Abuja, this building remains one of the most protected buildings in the country because of the purpose it serves and its economic relevance. Apart from its generation house that caught fire in 2018, there has been no other major outbreak or renovation it has seen since its completion in 2002.

16. Civic Center Tower

• Height: 300 ft
• Floors: 17
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: 2015

Civic Center Tower is one of the most iconic buildings in Lagos, situated at Ozumba Mbadiwe Road and Adetokumbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island. The unique 17-story building is most famous for its regular appearance in Nigerian music videos and movies. Built to offer hospitable services for local and international events, the civic center tower comprises a standard banquet hall, floating restaurants, meeting rooms, and Air Handling Unit.

17. National Oil Headquarters

• Height: 272 ft
• Floors: 23
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: 1984

Completed in 1984, the national oil headquarters was built to serve as Nigeria Petroleum Ministry before the NNPC Tower was completed, and the operation moved to Abuja in 1992. There has not been a record of any fire incidence since the structure’s completion.

18. Stock Exchange House, Lagos 

• Height: 83m
• Floors: 22
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: Unspecified

This is an  83m building of 22 Floors located at 2/4 Customs Street, Lagos Island, Lagos. The building houses the stock exchange of Nigeria.

19. UBA House

• Height: 272 ft
• Floors: 22
• Location: Lagos
• Year It was Built: Unspecified

Located on Lagos Island, at 57 Marina Street, the UBA House has its place as one of the tallest buildings in Nigeria. It is built to serve as the headquarters of the United Bank for Africa. Since its completion, it has not undergone any form of renovation, nor has there been a case of fire outbreak.

20. NNPC Towers 1, 2, 3 and 4

• Height: 75m
• Floors: 15
• Location: Abuja
• Year It was Built: 1996

The NNPC Towers in Abuja is the headquarters of NNPC. It consists of four identical towers, situated at Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District Abuja.

Recap of the 20 Tallest Buildings in Nigeria

1. Millennium Tower
2. NECOM House
3. Eko White Pearl Tower
4. Union Bank Building
5. World Trade Center (Tower II)
6. Eko Tower (II)
7. Black Pearl Tower
8. World Trade Centre (Tower I)
9. Ministry of Communication Building
10. Cocoa House
11. Intercontinental Hotel
12. Independence House
13. CBN House
14. Great Nigeria House
15. CBN Headquarters
16. Civic Center Tower
17. National Oil Headquarters
18. Stock Exchange House
19. UBA House
20. NNPC Towers 1, 2, 3 & 4

Tallest Buildings in Nigeria Under Construction

• Zuna Tower (410ft, 29 floors, located in Lagos)
• Orun Tower (415ft, 29 floors, located in Lagos)
• Oban Tower (410ft, 29 floors, located in Lagos)
• Abuja World Trade Centre Hotel Tower (518ft, 32floors, located in Abuja)