Residents and stakeholders in FESTAC Town, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State, under the aegis of Bring Back FESTAC, have threatened to protest at the headquarters of the Federal Housing Authority in Abuja over the alleged demolition of part of a perimeter fence protecting a public reserve housing power infrastructure serving the estate and its environs.
The residents, through the Bring Back FESTAC platform, alleged that some persons believed to be officials of the FHA, accompanied by armed policemen, recently pulled down a large section of the fence and removed the estate’s gateway, reports The PUNCH.
They also alleged the removal of lights and other installations around the affected area, while expressing concerns over the alleged extortion of residents and the sale or allocation of public utility spaces.
The President of Bring Back Festac, Valentine Uduebo, told our correspondent yesterday that the residents were planning a peaceful protest at the FHA headquarters in Abuja to demand explanations over the development.
Uduebo said, “Some persons alleged to be officials of the Federal Housing Authority, accompanied by armed policemen, recently pulled down a large section of the fence and removed the estate’s gateway.
“It is not alarming to see FHA act in such a manner. We can assure ourselves that they have sold that portion of land at 3rd Avenue B Close roundabout. Let us remain calm and law-abiding. We shall propose a day to storm the FHA.”
A resident, who spoke in a video obtained our correspondent showing the extent of the alleged demolition, said the officials also removed the estate’s gateway, lights and other installations.
The resident disputed claims that the demolished fence was recently constructed, insisting that it had existed for years.
He said, “They came here in numbers. I saw three buses, all filled with armed policemen and FHA officials. They broke almost 80 per cent of the wall.
“There was a fence here before. We didn’t just put it up. It was an existing fence. Whatever way we need to act, we have talked and met several times. We need to act.”
The residents also raised concerns over the alleged sale or allocation of public utility spaces and the approval of building plans within areas they described as reserved for public infrastructure.
They called for the FHA and other relevant authorities to clarify the status of the affected land and explain the circumstances surrounding the demolition.
However, the FHA dismissed the residents’ claims, saying the demolition was carried out because the affected development contravened regulations.
The FHA spokesperson, Kenneth Chigelu, told our correspondent yesterday that the authority would not demolish a structure without first issuing a warning and marking it for demolition
“It is a contravention; we are not mad people. They must have served a contravention notice before the demolition. We don’t just demolish anything we see,” Chigelu said.
He added that the demolition was carried out lawfully with the presence of police officers, insisting that the FHA had the authority to enforce development regulations within Festac Town.
“We are taking back the estate. That is just the truth. We have every right to do what we did. When the authority finds a contravention somewhere, we will go and pull it down,” he said.
Chigelu also alleged that the affected residents had been warned before the demolition.
“The authority must have sent a warning to them. The place must have been marked before we carry out any demolition. We don’t just wake up and start demolishing things. There is nothing illegal about it; they have been warned before the demolition,” he added.
