Residents of Festac Town in the Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State, under the aegis of the Take Back Festac Movement, have raised the alarm over the alleged sale of critical public infrastructure in the estate.
The residents, during a peaceful protest in the estate on Saturday, identified some of the facilities as including sewage treatment facilities, waterworks, parks and buffer zones, warning that the development poses serious environmental and public health risks.
The group also accused officials of the Federal Housing Authority of disposing of facilities originally designated for public use.
Speaking during the protest, the president of the group, Valentine Uduebo, described the situation as a threat to the survival of the estate and called on the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
Valentine alleged that several other public facilities across the estate had also been sold.
While consulting other stakeholders in the estate across the affected facilities, he said, “We are living in bondage here. Our lives are under threat.
“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.
“The affected facilities include sewage treatment plants located at the junction of 5th Avenue and 2nd Avenue, near the 3rd Gate on 7th Avenue, on 41 Road, on 4th Avenue by 7th Avenue, and on 21 Road by 201 Road.”
He further claimed that the Waterworks facility located on 22 Road had also been sold.
He said, “All these facilities have been sold. What is disturbing is that some people are claiming that the president approved these sales. That is not true. The president’s name is being used to justify actions that are causing serious harm to the community.
“Our children’s playgrounds and parks are disappearing. These spaces were created for recreation and community life, but they are being sold off without consideration for residents,” he added.
Valentine also accused authorities of imposing excessive charges on property owners in the estate.
He further alleged that residents were being subjected to multiple charges by different government agencies.
“Residents are being subjected to unlawful fees in the name of the president. People are charged huge sums for basic approvals and consent fees when buying property. We believe the president’s name is being wrongly used to justify these charges.
“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.
The activist appealed to the president to order an investigation into the transactions and sanction those responsible.
“We appreciate the ongoing road projects in Festac, but we also need our safety, our environment and our sanity restored. We are asking the President to investigate these sales and stop the disposal of community assets meant for residents,” he added.
Valentine said residents had repeatedly raised concerns with the FHA but were dissatisfied with the responses received.
“We have asked the FHA several times why these facilities are being sold. Their responses usually point to the Federal Government, but residents are not satisfied with these explanations,” he said.
A medical practitioner and resident of the estate, Dumebi Owa, warned that the alleged sale and possible conversion of sewage facilities could trigger serious health consequences.