Residents of Festac Town in the Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State have raised concerns over the alleged sale of critical public infrastructure, warning that the development could pose serious environmental, health and security risks within the estate.
The residents, under the umbrella of the Take Back Festac Movement, staged a peaceful protest on Saturday, accusing the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) of disposing of facilities originally designated for public use, including sewage treatment plants, waterworks, parks and buffer zones.
Speaking during the protest, the group’s president, Valentine Uduebo, described the alleged transactions as a threat to the future of the estate and called on President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene.
According to him, several sewage treatment facilities located across different parts of Festac Town had allegedly been sold to private interests.
“This facility behind us is a sewage management facility that serves residents in this area, yet it has been sold. The new owners intend to build food-related businesses on land meant for sewage management,” he alleged.
Uduebo also claimed that the estate’s Waterworks facility on 22 Road, as well as parks and recreational spaces, had been sold, warning that the loss of such infrastructure could negatively affect residents’ quality of life.
He further accused authorities of imposing multiple charges on property owners, alleging that residents are subjected to duplicate fees from both Lagos State agencies and the FHA.
“People pay building approval fees to Lagos State and are still required to make additional payments to the FHA. Residents see this as double taxation and extortion,” he said.
Health and Environmental Concerns
A medical practitioner and resident, Dr. Dumebi Owa, warned that converting sewage treatment facilities to other uses could create serious public health challenges.
“Sewage is meant to be properly managed and disposed of. If it is not properly handled, we risk outbreaks of diseases and serious public health challenges,” she said.
She also expressed concern over the alleged sale of parks and green spaces, noting that such developments could worsen environmental degradation and climate-related impacts.
Residents Demand Reversal of Sales
Another resident, James Ibekwe, who said he has lived in Festac Town since 1977, described the alleged transactions as a violation of the estate’s original master plan.
“We want the relevant authorities to act responsibly and revoke these sales. These sales are illegal, unconstitutional, null and void,” he said.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in Amuwo-Odofin, Monsuru Salam, alleged that a security post on 51 Road serving multiple security zones had also been sold, raising concerns about security within the community.
FHA Dismisses Allegations
Reacting to the protest, FHA spokesperson Kenneth Chigelu dismissed the allegations and questioned why the protesters had not formally engaged the authority before going public.
“It has become a norm for people to wake up and start protests simply for publicity. Have they taken the time to come to the authority and channel their complaints?” he said.
Chigelu maintained that many of the issues raised predated the current administration and argued that some of the facilities cited by protesters had long ceased functioning.
“As for the sewage treatment facilities, the central system collapsed a long time ago. Have they shown you functioning treatment plants?” he queried.
He advised aggrieved residents to channel their complaints through recognised structures, including the Festac Town Residents Association, which he identified as the FHA’s official partner for community engagement.
