FESTAC RESIDENTS PLAN ABUJA PROTEST OVER DEMOLITION, DEMAND ANSWERS FROM FHA

Residents and stakeholders in FESTAC Town, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State, have threatened to stage a peaceful protest at the headquarters of the Federal Housing Authority in Abuja following the alleged demolition of a section of the estate’s perimeter fence and gateway.

The residents, operating under the Bring Back FESTAC platform, said the affected structure was protecting a public reserve believed to accommodate power infrastructure serving FESTAC Town and surrounding communities. They expressed concern over what they described as the removal of important installations within the area.

According to the residents, individuals believed to be officials of the Federal Housing Authority, accompanied by armed policemen, recently arrived at the location and pulled down a substantial portion of the fence. They alleged that the operation also involved the removal of the estate’s gateway, lights and other installations.

The President of Bring Back FESTAC, Valentine Uduebo, said residents were preparing to approach the FHA headquarters in Abuja to demand an explanation for the action and clarification over the status of the affected property.

Uduebo expressed concern that the land could have been sold or allocated to private interests. He urged residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding while preparations were being made for the proposed demonstration.

A resident who spoke in a video showing the extent of the demolition also disputed any suggestion that the fence was a recently constructed structure. He insisted that the perimeter wall had existed for years and was not an unauthorised development recently erected by residents.

The resident claimed that a large number of officials and security personnel participated in the operation. According to him, the group arrived in several buses and demolished what he estimated to be almost 80 per cent of the wall.

Residents have also raised broader concerns about the alleged sale or allocation of public utility spaces within FESTAC Town. They want relevant authorities to explain whether areas originally reserved for public infrastructure have been transferred to private individuals or developers.

Another issue of concern to the residents is the alleged approval of building plans within areas they believe should remain reserved for public utilities. They are therefore demanding greater transparency regarding land allocation and development approvals within the estate.

However, the Federal Housing Authority rejected the residents’ allegations and defended the demolition as a lawful enforcement action against an alleged contravention of development regulations.

The FHA spokesperson, Kenneth Chigelu, said the authority does not demolish structures arbitrarily and insisted that affected developments are normally issued warning and contravention notices before enforcement action is taken.

Chigelu maintained that the demolished structure violated applicable regulations and said the presence of police officers during the operation was part of the authority’s enforcement process. He further stated that the FHA had the legal authority to remove developments found to be in contravention of regulations within FESTAC Town.

According to the FHA spokesperson, the affected residents had been warned before the demolition and the area would have been marked for enforcement before officials proceeded with the exercise.

The dispute has consequently created a sharp disagreement between the residents and the housing authority. While the residents are demanding explanations over the demolition and the alleged handling of public utility spaces, the FHA insists that it acted within its mandate to enforce development regulations.

The planned protest is expected to focus on demands for clarification over the ownership and status of the affected land, the reasons behind the demolition and concerns surrounding the alleged allocation of public utility areas.

The controversy also highlights longstanding concerns about land use, infrastructure protection and development control within established residential estates. Residents say they want assurances that spaces reserved for public facilities will remain protected and will not be transferred for private development without proper disclosure and due process.

As tensions continue to build, both sides are expected to maintain their respective positions, with residents preparing to seek answers from the FHA while the authority maintains that the demolition was carried out lawfully after the alleged contravention was identified.