KEY POINTS
- Festac residents plan a peaceful protest over the alleged demolition of their perimeter fence.
- Residents accuse the FHA of removing the fence, gateway and other installations.
- The FHA has yet to publicly respond to the allegations or clarify the status of the disputed land.
Residents and stakeholders in Festac Town, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State, have announced plans to stage a peaceful protest at the headquarters of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) over the alleged demolition of sections of the community’s perimeter fence.
The planned demonstration follows an incident in which individuals who identified themselves as FHA officials, accompanied by armed policemen, allegedly pulled down a substantial portion of the fence and removed the estate’s gateway and other installations.
Residents, under the aegis of Bring Back Festac, said they were concerned about what they described as actions that could affect public utility spaces and the interests of people living in the estate.
According to the residents, the demolished structure was not a recently erected fence but part of an existing perimeter barrier around Festac Town.
They alleged that a large section of the wall was destroyed during the operation, with one resident claiming that more than 80 per cent of the affected section had been pulled down.
The resident also alleged that the officials removed the estate’s gateway, lighting infrastructure and other installations during the operation.
He said the presence of several buses carrying armed policemen heightened concerns among residents, particularly because of the scale of the demolition.
Residents said they had previously held meetings and discussions over the issue but believed further action was now necessary.
Bring Back Festac, which is coordinating the planned protest, also raised broader concerns about the alleged sale of public utility spaces within the community.
The group claimed that the affected portion of land around the 3rd Avenue B Close roundabout was public land and alleged that it had been sold.
Valentine Uduebo, president of Bring Back Festac, urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding while announcing plans for the protest.
Uduebo expressed concern over what he described as the manner in which the Federal Housing Authority allegedly carried out the demolition.
He also alleged that residents had been subjected to unlawful extortion and raised concerns about the approval of development plans and other activities affecting public spaces in the estate.
Residents Demand Clarification
The controversy has placed renewed attention on the ownership and designated use of the land where the demolition reportedly occurred.
Residents maintain that the area forms part of a public reserve that accommodates energy and power infrastructure serving Festac Town and surrounding communities.
They are therefore seeking clarification from the FHA on the legal status of the land, the reason for the demolition and the authority under which the fence and other installations were removed.
The residents also want answers regarding allegations of the sale or allocation of public utility spaces within the community.
Despite the allegations made by the residents and their plans to protest, the specific reason for the demolition had not been independently established at the time of the report.
It was also unclear whether the affected land had been formally allocated to any individual or organisation, or whether residents had breached any housing, planning or development regulations.
The Federal Housing Authority had not publicly responded to the allegations as of the time of filing the report.
The absence of an official response means the residents’ claims regarding the demolition, alleged land sale, extortion and approvals remain allegations that have not been independently verified.
Meanwhile, Bring Back Festac has called on residents and other stakeholders to remain peaceful and law-abiding as they prepare to engage the FHA over the dispute.
