Over 650 Houses to be Demolished In Festac Town Area In Lagos
Over 650 Houses to be Demolished In Festac Town Area In Lagos
The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has revealed that it intends to demolish 677 houses in Phase 2, Festac Town, Amuwo-Odofin region of Lagos State. Additionally, 744 dwellings would have part of their structures dismantled due to development violations.
According to the source, Mr. Akintola Olagbemiro, the South-West Zonal Manager of FHA, said this while visiting the impacted area to gauge the degree of building disrespect.
According to Olagbemiro, despite letters and stakeholders’ meetings, the developers have continued to build on the swampy land without meeting the requirements.
He said: “After so many years of trying to get into the property belonging to FHA, which we labelled as Festac Phase 2. There has been encroachment and illegal development and it’s turning the place into a slum. We are trying to see how best we can resolve it and make people live in a more serene environment. Unfortunately, there have been cases of illegal developers and land grabbers.”
Deputy General Manager, FHA, Urban and Regional Planning, Southwest, Francisca Michael-James, said: “We have given the residents several notices but to our surprise, works are still going on, without regard to the law.
With our management’s approval, we can now request more security and begin enforcing it. We will begin demolishing buildings from the roadways and pipeline setbacks.
“We’ll also demolish the buildings that were built following the stakeholder meetings, when it was decided that everyone should hold off until after our assessment was finished.
However, some of them persisted in construction and came to the conclusion that while regularization is inevitable, it is not automatic. Those who did not meet the requirements for regularization will now have to leave.
Speaking about the penalties for violators, she stated: “Operations that involve demolition are legally required to result in penalties for the building’s owner as well as fees for the expenses incurred in carrying out the work. In the unlikely event that any of the buildings fall, the landlord will face manslaughter charges; nevertheless, accusing the agency will come first, which is why we wish to enforce the law. Enforcement will shortly be completed.
“We are clearing the road first; some structures will need to be substantially removed in order to make room for right-of-way. There will be a total of 677 dwellings destroyed and 744 partially destroyed.
