Lagos based Non governmental Organisations, Center for Leadership and Creative Entrepreneurs in Africa LTD/GTE and Initiatives for Urban Regeneration have called for a joint intervention of the Lagos State government and Federal government to stall the lingering legal feud between the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and the Amuwo Odofin Royal Family, which allegedly hampers development in the area.
In a statement jointly signed by Amb. Kingsley Enwelim Nwanze the President/Founder, Center for Leadership and Creative Entrepreneurs in Africa LTD/GTE and Comrade Babatunde Olagunju the Executive Director Initiative for Urban Regeneration, the groups lauded the noble moves and strategies of Senator Ashafa geared at restoring the lost glory of the Festac Town in Amuwo-Odofin area.
The statement read in part,“As Civil Society Organizations operating in Festac Town, we are acknowledging the ongoing good works aimed at restoring the lost glory of Festac Town under the present management of Federal Housing Authority led by a very experienced technocrat, Senator Gbenga Ashafa.
“We would like the management of Federal Housing Authority to reclaim spaces meant for recreational needs of the people without further delay.
“The spaces can be modernized by engaging interested parties through collaborative urban regenerative actions for the purpose of recreation that will positively engage our teeming youths and provide auxiliary services to the teeming people of Festac Town.”
The groups tasked the concerned strata of government on the need for prompt intervention in the lingering legal tussle amidst FHA and Amuwo Odofin royal family.
“We want to appeal to the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Sanwoolu to speedily intervene in resolving the issue impeding the development of 6th Avenue Market and Mechanic Village.
“The existing legal issue between the Amuwo Odofin Royal Family and Federal Housing Authority is impeding commencement of works at the site.”
The groups are also passionate about the people centered reclamation exercise, embarked on by the new management of the FHA led by Senator Olugbenga Ashafa,particularly as it focuses on critically addressing the indiscriminate distortion of the original masterplan of Festac Town, which affords basic provisions for residents welfare.
Citing the diversion of existing recreational centres for commercial use as an aberration, which the new FHA administration must not condone.
“A lot of spaces designed to make it serene and habitable have been turned into commercial spaces not minding its implications on the people’s habitation. Most of the recreational spaces have been turned into undeserving commercial hubs.
“We emphatically state our unflinching support for the present management of Federal Housing Authority led by Senator Gbenga Ashafa in his resolve at re-implementing Festac Town original master plan.
“Most Estates in Nigeria were fashioned after Festac Town and its great and enduring splendour as it was well organized right from conception.
“Blessed with state of the art infrastructure like good road networks, alternative power supply, functional street lights, functional recreational facilities, functional primary healthcare facilities, organized commercial hubs, public libraries, etc. unfortunately, most of these facilities are now rustic and a recipe for history.
The group’s President Ambassador Nwanze alluded to the unprecedented feat attained by the new FHA administration targeted at reinventing the model structure afforded in Festac Town.
“Senator Gbenga Ashafa has since swung into action on a very unique turf, as we can see that the long stretch of the buffer zones from first gate to Alakija gate that had earlier served as slums and unorganized auto-mechanic hubs have now been allocated to their rightful owners.
“ This action is already decimating criminal activities on that route and when the houses are completed it will beautify the aesthetic outlook of Festac Town.
“We are also aware that some unoccupied areas that are serving as slums are being demolished in their numbers.
“Some places that were hijacked for selfish reasons are being taking over by the team instituted by Senator Gbenga Ashafa led management team. We are seeing FHA standing up to its responsibility under the present management.
“Though, there have been several efforts to revamp these infrastructures but there was no political will to drive the process in restoring the lost glory of Festac Town until when Senator Gbenga Ashafa and his team came on board.
“They immediately swung into action by meeting with critical stakeholders like the Festac Town Resident Association, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Council and Lagos State Government and interested private infrastructural investors.
“The stakeholder’s engagement was premised on the persistent calls to restore the lost glory of Festac Town to its original master plan, that is, the era where infrastructures were properly planned.
“ It is sad knowing that this glorious habitation has over time being experiencing serious distortion of its physical plannings and corrosive devaluation of its infrastructures for selfish reasons.
“ We are excited at the collaboration sought by the management of Federal Housing Authority from the Lagos State Government in the areas of Knowledge sharing, Technology Transfer, Cooperation on Infrastructures delivery, Quick resolution of development crisis.
“ If these areas of collaboration are speedily implemented then in no distant time the lost glory of Festac Town will be fully restored to the excitement of all.”