Tension At FESTAC Town As FHA Announces Plans To Demolish 10,000 Illegal Houses

Posted on May 20, 2024

KINGSLEY EBERE

The plans by the Federal Government through its agency, Federal Housing Authority, (FHA), to demolish over 10,000 buildings inside FESTAC town in Lagos State have thrown the landlords and residents into confusion because most of the houses built over the years had no approval permits.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the FHA has announced, as part of measures to restore FESTAC Town’s master plan, that it has identified over 10,000 illegal buildings that will be removed for the restoration of FESTAC Town master plan.

It stated that the move would assist in restoring the glory of the 45-year old estate as the master plan has been completely distorted over the years through illegal structures.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Oyetunde Ojo, who stated this on Saturday during the quarterly general meeting of the Festival Town Residents Association held on 512 Road.

He blamed total collapse of infrastructure within the estate on past administrations, as well as on Amuwo Odofin Local Government and residents out of negligence over the years.

Mr Ojo, who was represented by the Executive Director in the FHA, Ezekiel Etok, charged the Amuwo Odofin Local Government to prioritize infrastructure development in the area and stated that the management is prepared to partner the council to correct the mistakes of past administrations.

The FHA boss explained that the current leadership is prepared to implement the Renewed Hope Agenda within the estates and cautioned residents against building without proper approval, adding that weeks of grace would be given to those who are yet to regularize their papers to do so.

On his part, the South West Zonal Chairman of the FHA, Akin Olagbemiro, showcased the agreement signed on the 21st of April, 1988, between the FHA and the council authorities. He said that the Local Government, as the collector of Tenement Rate, shall maintain the roads, drainages, streetlights, and open spaces within the area.

He also said that all avenues in FESTAC shall be designated as state roads, while all roads and closes shall be under the purview of the Local Government.

Olagbemiro however, noted that in 2021, some parts of FESTAC that were not motorable were fixed at the time.

The President of the Festival Residents Association, Adeshina Adegbenro, said the entire FESTAC is facing enormous challenges, including bad roads, irregular power supply, and environmental degradation.

He said every community in the area is faced with peculiar problems, which necessitated the need for the quarterly meeting.

According to him, the residents expect to see positive developments before the end of the year through the intervention of the FHA.

In his speech, Olaseeni Ogunjobi, the chairman of Community 2, demanded the assistance of the Federal Housing Authority in restoring FESTAC Town to its enviable glory.

He lamented that all the existing facilities, including walkways, have been overtaken by vendors of all sorts, with shops illegally erected while vandalism is on the rise within the estate.

The chairman also noted the menace of the cart refuse collectors and their indiscriminate dumping of refuse in any available space within the estate.

He appealed to the FHA Managing Director to help protect Victory Park from land grabbers, adding that the community has 25,000 residents and is the largest of the FTRA communities.

The notice by FHA has caused panic for the landlords, who will lose their properties and tenants will face the challenges of relocation due to economic hardship in the country.