Demolitions in FESTAC to halt disaster, ethnic consideration not a factor – FHA

The recent demolition in FESTAC Town, Lagos State has been described by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) as a timely action to forestall the looming danger which is a direct consequence of several years of none compliance with physical planning laws and not ethnically motivated.

In a statement issued by FHA, its management said the master plan of FESTAC had been bastardized and the infractions had continued unabated.

It said residents did not comply with agreements reached with FHA on how to salvage the situation which is a time bomb waiting to explode, hence proactive efforts by the authority to prevent building collapses and avoidable loss of lives.

The authority insisted that its response was to correct negative narratives of ethnic colouration being peddled by mischief makers some of whom were serial land grabbers intending to create disunity.

The management explained how it designed a second phase of the FESTAC Town with a standard Layout for development which was bastardized and later slowed down by litigations.

“Unfortunately, this situation was capitalised by some persons, who started selling parts of the land to individuals.

“On noticing this, management quickly placed caveats; warning members of the public not to patronise such illegal transactions. The caveat later advised the public to visit FHA offices for legal searches if they must transact such business.

“The result of those land transactions was the springing up many illegal developments, built without approvals and against the Master plan.

“Houses were built at the center of major roads, very close to the canal, proper set backs, and very close to Oil pipelines. The area was rapidly developing into a modern slum.

“The Authority’s attempt at checking this was met with heavy resistance. Armed thugs molested and beat up staff on Development Control duties, and in many instances near to the point of death,” it noted

The Authority said it sought the collaboration of the Lagos State Government in 2018 for safety of its team who began to serve Stop Work orders and eviction notices in 2019.

The FHA said actual demolitions started in 2021 when the management began demolition of illegal and substandard structures built with disregard to the existing layouts and defiance numerous Stop Work orders.

The authority explained that it removed substandard structures on swampy land built without requisite approval/supervision and had large chances of collapse due to soil types.

It added that some of the structures were at the center of major roads to alter the Master plan.

“Other structures were on road setbacks, drains and other infrastructure. Houses were built below the level of the roads and prone to collapse because of soil settings,” it stated.

The authority explained that it agreed to reconsider several affected persons during a stakeholders meeting in 2022, to salvage as many buildings as possible, without compromising standards.

It noted that stakeholders agreed that all developments along the roads, buildings close to canals and pipelines must be demolished.

The management added that it was also resolved that every building not certified by FHA officials must undergo integrity test while all forms of developments must stop.

It added that contravention notices and conditions for regularisation were served on affected buildings for FHA to conduct Verification and Regularisation exercise, and where necessary Recovery.

“Management immediately started the implementation of the exercise as agreed. The Authority started by carrying out an aerial survey to ascertain the level of distortion and subsequent redesign of the area, and verification and Regularisation exercise commenced.

“Unfortunately, against the agreement reached with the Stakeholders and representatives of all the ‘estates’ within the Festac phase 2, many more building kept springing up without approvals and supervision. We also want to state that non of these buildings has a Federal Housing Authority letter of allocation.

“Management in this circumstance can not watch as this phase of Festac is willfully being distorted..

“In September 2023, demolition notices were served again, which led to the current exercise.

“Management wants to state here that there are many building that are standing in this area. There are also hundreds of buildings that are undergoing regularization.

“Federal Housing Authority would not wait until a building collapses in the area before reacting. Our proactive action which predates now is to save impending danger that looms around this area of FESTAC,” it said.