Guardian

IF the proposals by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and Amuwo Odofin Local Government Council sail through, better days are coming for the residents of FESTAC Town in Lagos as the duo have commenced extensive search towards revamping the ailing infrastructure of the once upon a time enviable settlement.

The Festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC Estate, also known as FESTAC Town and Festival Village, a sprawling residential quarters hitherto an exclusive dwelling for the elite, has over the years degenerated into a semi slum, no thanks to its abandonment by authorities.

The Town was designed purely as a residential village to house participants of the second World Festival of Black Arts and Culture, which Nigeria hosted in 1977. Fittingly, the name of the estate was derived from that 1977 African world event. With 5,000 dwelling units and seven major avenues, FESTAC village was carefully structured to accommodate about 45,000 visitors as well as Nigerian employees and officers who worked at the festival.

Like every well-planned village, provisions were made for all basic amenities to ensure that residents lacked nothing. The FESTAC village boasted of state-of-the-art facilities such as electrical generators that immediately generated power any time there was power outage. There were health centres, police and fire stations, as well as banks. There were also public restrooms, postal services, supermarkets and access to public transportation was easy. More so, there were recreational parks and open spaces where children used as playgrounds. There was also a central sewage system and because the estate was sand-filled, heavy vehicles were not allowed on the roads to avoid damage to the roads. To add to its beauty, electric power lines were located underground.  In fact, many referred to the settlement as little London.

But 35 years after, Festac has become a shadow of its former self. Apart from hundreds of houses begging for immediate attention, various sections of the roads linking one part of the estate to another are in deplorable condition.

Many of the houses in the estate have become jam-packed, overcrowded and rowdy. Housing units that were meant for just a handful of people are being used by thrice the intended number of occupants, a situation that has led to the collapse of the once-upon attractive facilities within the estate.

Only few weeks ago, an international consultant and local government council met to finalize talks on how to redevelop the once super estate designed with modern architecture, building development, infrastructure and engineering.

They revealed to The Guardian that they proposed to introduce a tolling system that would be used to raise funds for redevelopment, and that the plan had been consented to by FHA and Residents’ Association.

According to the Amuwo Odofin’s Local Government’s Chairman, Ayodele Adewale the tollgates would be stationed at various entry and exit points of the town and the funds collected would be used to repair the damaged sewage system, road network, and other decaying facilities.

Adewale who lamented the deplorable state of some basic facilities in Festac Town due to abuse by residents and paucity of funds revealed that authorities are looking to commence the scheme in the coming year.

The LG boss also highlighted that some of its recent developmental projects, which include roads construction, were done with meager resources and called for Local Government autonomy, which according to him will enable the LG have more funds to improve on the developmental projects.

On the state of the sewage system in Festac Town, Adewale regretted the actions of some residents who diverted their sewage pipes into open drainage stressing that the unsanitary act poses great danger to the environment, which will manifest either now or in the future.

Consultants to the project, Mr. Obi Ajuga explained to The Guardian that authorities are looking to generate as much as N6.4 billion yearly from the tolling system even as the property values of Festac will increase and double in the next five years.

He said, “Since the inception of Festac Town, there has been a dearth of government spending in Festac Town, and the allocation given has not been enough. So we came up with an idea where residents pay tolls at various entrances to the town so as to gather funds to reinvest on roads, sewage, parks, electricity and security. And in doing this, the property values of Festac will increase and double in the next five years. We have sampled the opinion of people in Festac and they have been enthusiastic about it. Many of South Africa’s cities were developed based on this system.”

He added that responses to the initiative had been positive and that decision on how the money would be spent will be reached at town-hall meetings, which will give the process transparency

“The only other thing is how the money would be spent equitable without being diverted through corruption and for this purpose were have come up with a transparent system were select resident will supervise the spending. They will be the one to hand over the money to a trusted construction company.

“The responses have been positive but the challenge has been how to begin the project and we estimate to draw as much as N6.4 million yearly which can be invested into resuscitation.

We are also looking at getting start up finance from other sources but the prime mover of the project is the local government. We are planning to have residents pay a concessionary rate while visitors pay flat rates. We have also had meetings with residents association who have indicated full support for the project.” Added Ajuga

Reacting, FHA’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tunde Ipinmesho, said the authority is almost getting through with the proposal for the urban renewal programme, adding, it had earlier invited UNHabitat to undertake a study of the whole area, with a view to proffer lasting solution.

Ipinmesho, who could not confirm the appointment of the said international consultants, said the council had visited the authority for possible partnership.

According to him, FHA cannot single-handedly take on the renewal project of FESTAC due to its capital intensiveness, hence it had reached out to the Federal Government to offer an assistance, which he said led to the formation of a committee, headed by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple.

Beside, Ipinmesho said the authority had commenced work on the reclamation of 1000 hectares of marshy land through sand filling, at Festac Phase II, Lagos.