Remember the popular nite clubs of the 80’s and early 90’s in Lagos? Lord’s Club, Nite Shift, Fantasy, etc. – all of which kept the entertainment and social circles very much alive? Also remember that the nite club and nite life were threatened at the turn of the century by insecurity, when armed robbers, kidnappers, cultist and ritual killers forced Lagos residents to stay indoors for nearly two decades.
Good news is – fun and good life has resurrected in Ikorodu with a new discovery along Beach Road, between Ikorodu and Ebute (Ipakodo), where both day and night, there are high decibels of musical and entertainment vibrations. The place is called F1 and its story is that of a meteoric rise from nothing to something. Formerly a car wash located near a swampy valley, F1 has metamorphosed into the biggest and best nite club and entertainment center in Ikorodu division today within one year month of its migration from being a car wash.
Occupying a vast and strategic land space, the club is like a mini Hollywood center, which has a casino entrance with the features of the most modern discotheque, a TV viewing center, a radio/TV studio, an amusement center and a modern eatery and bar. The mighty club, almost the size of Ikorodu musical village, quakes with high voltage disco (hip pop) and sounds operated by four disc jockeys, two of whom are permanent/resident dee jays.
The club is serviced by three kitchens, one of which is the Barbeque, three exotic bars, a steady, bubbly and functional bar capable of supplying chilled drinks for 24 hours nonstop on a busy day and night. His staff, almost all of whom are well educated, man this new discovery. They include muscular and heavy chested bouncers, who compliment the efforts of four layers of security operatives, notably Rapid Response Squad, Onyabo Vigilante and internal security of the club. Backed by Surveillance Cameras, positioned at strategic places, the club is highly wired electrically to provide dissolute security for the users and the owners of the club.
The club’s car park can conveniently house 500 cars, policed by no-nonsense security men aided at night by flood/street lights and other gadgets. The beauty of the club is perceived or appreciated at night. From the three or four major entrances, you are welcomed by an air people doing a serious business. The body and sign language from the gates to all the entrances are that this club is not for miscreants. It is not an all comers’ club for drinks or irresponsible activities. It is not discriminatory against the poor but against underaged ones and those with untoward conducts.
Inside the main club house, studio lightening from the high roof welcomes the visitors. The kind of lightings you see in Casinos decorate the Western wing of the hall from where there deejays blast their explosive sounds. By the Eastern end of the hall facing the Beach road is the main kitchen, which dishes out exotic foods. Beside it is the Barbecue kitchen, which provides all kinds of delicacies (fish, meat, chips, etc.). Beside the Northern entrance are rows of Television sets keeping youths and the old busy as they watch and analyze world football tournaments.
The V.I.P lounge, which is almost completed, is set apart at the hall’s Southern end with all the hallmarks of opulence and comfort, dignity and fun fare. With galaxy of studio lights producing multiple video, effects, the place promises to ignite passion and entertainment flavor to spoil the rich a little in Ikorodu. No wonder many Lagosians are now storming Ikorodu from different parts of Lagos to have fun. With the spectre of Badoo ritual killings, kidnapping, robbery and cultism now suppressed in the division, F1 is now set to break entertainment records for fun seekers in and outside Ikorodu division.
It is not surprising that everyday, but more outstandingly during weekends, F1 is flooded with high grade customers, who drive or walk in to relax for hours, enjoying their favorite music, drinks, food and other delicacies. They can even shop within the complex, dance at the music floors or watch artistes performing live, including comedians, live band, or guest musicians, and other side attractions.
Conducting these writers round the complex, the Proprietor of F1, Mr. Mustapha with his image maker, Popson Omotayo, confirmed that very soon, the cinema section of the club would be unfolded in the coming months as well as other entertainment infrastructure. The General Manager of the Club, Segun Sulaimon Olaiya , who is credited for this wonderful initiative, believes that the club has more in the offing to offer the public in few years to come. Now regarded as the biggest and most successful relaxation center in Ikorodu division, its story has become that of the mustard seed, (so small yet it geminates into a might tree).
How long and how tough was it to get to this height, and how does this Fatai of an entrepreneur and his team plan to sustain or manage this huge investment success?
Alhaji Fatai told the Oriwu Sun team, Monzor, Chuma, Segun, Teslim and Rasheed that it had taken this investment nearly ten years to hit big limelight. For several years, it served as a car wash and a bar, but through the injection of some innovations and tantalizing ideas, the place exploded and became an instant success.
Of course, in Nigeria, when you burst it big, you attain envy and suspicions. People began to allege different things against the man, Fatai and his club because they never imagined this kind of outfit could spring out of Ikorodu. The management of the Club fortified the place with top class security arrangements so that no one, who comes to this club, will ever regret his or her stay.
It must be costing the management a lot of money as running costs to maintain this level of security and pay salaries of staff. When one sees the voltage of light that beams in and out of the present club, one can then imagine how much the organization pay as NEPA bill or spend on diesel to power its two giant hundreds of KVA generators.
To manage its success, the organization has strict orders and standards pasted at its entrance door – who and who should visit the club, what the guests are expected to do and not to do, etc. This is one of the ways Mr. Popson Omotayo told Oriwu Sun the relaxation center adopts to stay on top. We were told the management is re-investing its income into expanding and improving the services and infrastructure in order to compete favourably with others in the hospitality industry.
For two nights, on September 30 and October 1, 2017, Oriwu Sun crew kept watch at this club to feed our readers with the happening in the place. Segun Adeniyi filed additional report on the October 1, 2017 special anniversary programme.
It was a memorable Sunday evening, full of fun amidst glamour, at the most populous and most patronized bar entertainment center in Ikorodu division, the F1 sport bar, on Sunday, October 1, 2017. A day which coincided with the Nation’s Independence Day celebration, which saw thousands of fun lovers trooping in from all parts of Ikorodu and Lagos State in general.
To a first time visitor passing through the vicinity on Sunday, it would look as if a powerful crusade or Tahajud was being held at the F1 bar entertainment centre, but this was not the case. It was the special Independence Day show, which Alhaji Mustapha Fatai, the CEO, F1 bar, always host to commemorate the Independence Day celebration of Nigeria.
The glamourous and mouth-watering event was anchored by the vibrant Mc Hold Something while the show featured celebration of customers and patronizers birthday, which coincided with the Independence Day celebration. It also featured performances from upcoming artistes from Ikorodu division and other parts of the state as well as performances by the Golden Dancers. The prolific comedian from Ibadan city, Thompson Layer, cracked series of jokes to the delight of the fun lovers. The outstanding and well enlightened Disc Jockeys, DJ Murphy and DJ Dre, entertained customers with latest Hip-Hop music, which made them to display series of dance steps.
The whole bar was crowded and filled to the brim as people, who could not get a sit, stood for several hours because no one could afford to miss the fun. In the course of the show, customers and patronizers showered praises on the CEO of F1 Relaxation Center, Alhaji Mustapha Fatai, for coming up with the initiative of organizing the show on yearly basis to commemorate the Nation’s Independence day celebration. This is a very rare one in most of the entertainment centres in the division; thus, making F1 many people’s number one choice amongst other bars.
For this man, Fatai, who defies several aspersions cast against him and embraces instead, classic principles of good business to oversee a flourishing venture, the future is definitely bright for him.
If only the Federal and State Governments would address the worsening situation of the Sagamu, Ijebu Ode, Ijede, Igbe and Igbogbo Bayeiku roads, coupled with the positioning of Ikorodu Musical Village eastwards of Ikorodu as well as the proposed Shoprite to be allocated along the same Beach Road in central Ikorodu, a wonderful, rosy business climate plus improved economy and comfort for the residents of Ikorodu division would be assured!
What the customers say
OLADEJI ASAI, CUSTOMER, PROPERTY DEALER
Since I have been coming here, I have never seen any fetish thing on display. I think F1 is well organized and they have standard security. There is nothing to fear and I do come here from Tuesday to Sunday every week. It is an environment friendly place and it is well secured.
ADEDEDJI SALISU, CUSTOMER
F1 is a very good place to be. I am satisfied with their services. Since I have been coming here, I have not noticed any fetish things around.
MODUPE FOLARIN, STAFF
I have worked at F1 since the establishment of the bar. I work in the kitchen and I have not noticed any ungodly since I started working. Majority of the people that come here are responsible people. On our own part, we do not disrupt the cool atmosphere of our bar.
ELIAS BLESSING, PHARMTECH, CUSTOMER
I have been patronizing F1 for more than a year and half. I love their services and security. I feel safe whenever I come here to relax and I would rate this bar as one of the best around so far. I have never found any fetish object with a customer here and I believe that it would be quite impossible to bring any fetish object into this place because everyone is searched before being allowed in.
SHAKIRAT ALIYU
I have been patronizing F1 for three years now. I love their service, especially their good relationship with the customers. The impression of some boys is that most girls that come here are prostitutes. That is very embarrassing to people like me.
- FEMI ADEBOWALE, EVENT PLANNER, CUSTOMER
F1 is a good relaxation center, which is highly conducive to customers. They provide good services and the M.D is a very gentle, easy going and accommodating man.