Tafawa Balewa Square

A 14.5-hectare national ceremonial ground on Lagos Island, built on the old Lagos Race Course.

Last checked: 27 Oct 2026

Aerial view of Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island, with green-roofed stands around a large open ground covered in white tents, and the city skyline and lagoon beyond — Photo: Juganutt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and compressed.

Quick facts

State: Lagos State
City: Lagos Island
Category: Landmarks
Location: Lagos Island, Lagos
Size: 14.5 hectares
Former name: Lagos Race Course
Rebuilt: Early 1970s, as a national ceremonial ground
Named after: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria's first prime minister

Tafawa Balewa Square is a 14.5-hectare ceremonial ground on Lagos Island. It was built on the site of the old Lagos Race Course and is named after Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria's first prime minister.

From race course to square

The site began as the Lagos Race Course, first used for horse racing. In its heyday it hosted Empire Day parades.

In 1960 it was redeveloped to mark Nigeria's independence and the lowering of the Union Jack.

The square today

In the early 1970s, under the government of Yakubu Gowon, the race course was demolished and rebuilt as Tafawa Balewa Square, a national ceremonial ground for state events, parades and commemorations.

The square has a monumental design with a horse statue and bronze plaques.

Visiting

Access and opening times are not confirmed here, so check before you go.

Lagos is not named in the UK Foreign Office's advice against travel to parts of Nigeria (page updated 22 Oct 2026). For the wider picture, read is Nigeria safe to visit?

Freedom Park is also on Lagos Island. Visiting in the holiday season? See Detty December in Lagos.