FESTAC RESIDENTS THREATEN PROTEST OVER DEMOLISHED FENCE

Residents and stakeholders in FESTAC Town, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State, have threatened to protest at the Federal Housing Authority headquarters in Abuja over the alleged demolition of part of a perimeter fence protecting public utility infrastructure in the estate.

Under the Bring Back FESTAC platform, the residents alleged that officials of the FHA, accompanied by armed policemen, pulled down a large section of the fence and removed the estate’s gateway, lights and other installations.

The President of Bring Back FESTAC, Valentine Uduebo, said the residents were planning a peaceful protest to demand explanations from the FHA over the demolition and the alleged sale or allocation of public utility spaces.

Residents also called on the authorities to clarify the ownership and status of the affected land, alleging that some areas reserved for public infrastructure were being allocated for other purposes.

However, the FHA dismissed the allegations, saying the demolished structure violated development regulations.

The FHA spokesperson, Kenneth Chigelu, said the authority would not demolish any structure without first issuing a contravention notice and marking it for demolition.

Chigelu maintained that the demolition was lawful and carried out in the presence of police officers, adding that the FHA had the authority to enforce development regulations within FESTAC Town.

He further stated that the affected residents had been warned before the demolition and insisted that the authority was acting within its powers to reclaim parts of the estate affected by regulatory violations.