The Lagos State Government on Friday intensified its collaboration with the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) on the restoration of Federal Government Estates in Lagos State by inaugurating a Technical Committee.
This follows the deplorable state of the Federal Government Estates which are in a deplorable state with the breakdown of facilities and infrastructures.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, said during the inauguration of the Technical Committee that the fast degrading condition of the Federal Government Estates in the state, necessitated the constitution of a committee to see their restoration.
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Salako, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engr. Abiola Kosegbe said that Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu had thrown his weight behind the collaborative effort to revamp the Federal Government Estates, having been aware of the enormous urban planning challenges that the slumming of sprawling estates would create for the host State.
The Commissioner maintained that the move would encourage joint efforts for resolving cases of illegal structures such as unapproved constructions and all forms of attachments within the estates.
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Salako said, “For this collaboration to achieve its aim of a better-built environment within Federal Estates in Lagos, we expect members of the Technical Committee to handle this assignment with passion, diligence and integrity it deserves while providing regular updates and feedback to the Government.’’
The Zonal Manager, Federal Housing Authority, Arc. (Mrs.) Bada, while speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated Technical Committee said that she was excited by the synergy between the Lagos State Government and the Federal Housing Authority, describing it as long-awaited and capable of turning around the fortunes of the Estates for the benefit of all stakeholders, including the Lagos State Government in whose jurisdiction the Estates are located.
Members of the Technical Committee were drawn from the Federal Housing Authority, Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Office of Surveyor-General, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority and the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency.
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Bottom Line
This is a welcome development for most of these Federal Government Estates in Lagos State, which have experienced the breakdown of facilities and infrastructures due to neglect by the Federal Government.
Some of these once beautiful estates like Festac Town and Gowon Estate in Ipaja have degenerated a whole lot since the Federal Government moved its capital from Lagos to Abuja, which was exacerbated with the distortion of their original master plan and neglect.
