Jaekel House

Jaekel House is a two-storey colonial mansion in the old Railway Compound at Ebute Metta, on the Lagos mainland. It was built in 1898 as the residence of the general manager of the railway, and later became a rest house for senior railway staff. It takes its name from Francis Jaekel, a former superintendent of the Nigerian Railway Corporation who retired in the 1970s. After years of neglect the house was renovated in 2010 by Professor John Godwin working with the Railway Corporation, and it is now looked after by Legacy 1995, a volunteer-run heritage charity registered that year.

The house works as a mini museum. Its rooms hold photographic archives covering the 1940s to the 1970s, showing people, places and events in Nigeria before and after independence, along with artefacts from the old railway such as tools, equipment, uniforms and pictures. The colonial building itself is part of the attraction, set on a large landscaped site that Legacy 1995 calls the Secret Garden. The wider compound contains some of the earliest railway tracks, repair yards and sheds in Nigeria, which the charity also campaigns to preserve.

This is a place for history enthusiasts, photographers and anyone curious about colonial Lagos and the railway that shaped the mainland. It is also a pleasant, green escape from the traffic of Yaba and Ebute Metta, and Legacy 1995 invites visitors to make a day of it with a picnic in the garden. The house is often used for filming and weddings, and it hosts talks, exhibitions and workshops on heritage subjects, such as Nigeria's Brazilian connection and the influence of the railways.

Legacy 1995 lists opening hours from Monday to Saturday and asks visitors to schedule their visit by phone, which is the best way to be sure someone is available to show you round. Allow about an hour for the house and grounds, longer if you bring a picnic. Bring water, especially in the hot season.

The Railway Compound is on Federal Road in Ebute Metta, a short drive from Yaba. A ride-hailing car is the simplest way to get there from Ikoyi or Victoria Island, crossing via the Third Mainland or Carter bridges. If you are interested in more heritage sites, ask Legacy 1995 about its guided walks on Lagos Island and day tours further afield.