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Mr. Oyetunde Ojo, Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), has announced the commencement of road rehabilitation in Festac Town, Lagos, beginning with the renovation of 1st Avenue.
During an inspection of the ongoing work on Thursday, August 22, Ojo revealed that as part of the broader rehabilitation efforts, the FHA will also demolish any structures in the town found to have integrity issues.
In a statement released on Friday, the FHA detailed that the rehabilitation project will proceed in phases, focusing on the town’s deteriorating infrastructure. Ojo emphasized that “restoring the glory of Festac Town has gone beyond mere rhetoric” and assured that the initiative would be marked by tangible progress.
Describing Festac Town as a national treasure rather than just an estate, Ojo reaffirmed the FHA’s commitment to reclaiming its lost prestige. He urged residents to support the rehabilitation efforts by paying their statutory fees, stressing that the Authority relies on these funds for its operations in the absence of government allocations.
Ojo also explained that the ongoing verification exercise aims to update the Authority’s database, noting that only verified properties will be recognized following the exercise.
Regarding the rehabilitation specifics, Ojo highlighted plans to upgrade the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gates, clear illegal structures, install solar street lights, and perform palliative road repairs. He particularly warned that buildings showing “visible signs of integrity failure” on 6th Avenue will be demolished, adding that property owners can retain their land titles if they choose to demolish the structures themselves. However, if the FHA undertakes the demolition, the owners will lose their land rights.
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Ojo outlined that the rehabilitation will start with the demolition of the old 1st gate, followed by the construction of a modern structure, removal of illegal structures along that axis, installation of solar street lights along 1st Avenue from the 1st gate to the 11th Road junction, and clearing and maintaining the median. Palliative repairs will also be conducted on the roads leading to and from the 1st gate.
Additionally, Ojo mentioned the planned repair of the 3.2km stretch of 2nd Avenue, which is estimated to cost around 7 billion Naira. He stated that while the FHA will seek Federal Government support for this extensive work, palliative measures will be implemented to keep the road functional in the meantime.
Ojo concluded by issuing a warning about his upcoming visit to 6th Avenue to oversee the demolition of properties marked by the Authority. He noted that several of these buildings are at risk of collapse due to structural failure, reiterating that property owners who independently demolish their marked buildings will retain their land titles, while those who do not may forfeit their rights if the FHA steps in.
