As part of efforts to rid Lagos State of illegal structures, no fewer than 677 houses have been earmarked for complete demolition in Festac Town, Awumo-Odofin area of the state.
Disclosing this, the Federal Housing Authority, FHA, Southwest Zonal Manager, Akintola Olagbemiro, said 744 others will be partially demolished due to developers’ infringement.
FHA’s South-West Zonal Manager, Mr Akintola Olagbemiro, disclosed this during an on-the-spot assessment of the affected area.
Olagbemiro lamented that developers erect structures in swampy areas without meeting the requirements despite letters and stakeholders’ meetings.
According to the FHA Zonal Manager: “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.”
On her part, the Deputy General Manager, FHA, Urban and Regional Planning, Southwest, Francisca Michael-James, lamented the refusal of developers to adhere to directives ordering them to stop construction.
She said the agency has resorted to getting security backup and start demolishing the affected houses.
On punishment for defaulters, she said: “In the law, if we demolish, we are supposed to penalise the owner of the building and charge for the fees for the cost of carrying out the operation. Assuming any of the buildings collapsed, the landlord will be charged for manslaughter, but the first point of call will be pointing accusing fingers at the agency so, as to avoid that, that’s why we want to carry out the enforcement. The enforcement will be done soon.
“The first thing we are doing is to clear the road; some of the buildings will be partially demolished for right of way. 677 houses will be demolished and 744 will be demolished partially.”
