The Federal Government through the Federal Housing Authority has warned that it is set to commence the demolition of substandard buildings in Festac, Lagos State.
This was disclosed by Mrs Francisca Michael-James, FHA’s Head of Town Planning, South-West Zone, during a delegation to Festac Town, according to NAN.
She warned that all efforts to stop developers from encroaching and building without approval in FESTAC had failed as the developers ignored orders to ‘stop work’, highlighting that demolition notice served on illegal occupants in the town elapsed 21 days ago.
What the FHA is saying
The housing authority boss stated that the substandard buildings under construction were on swampy land and risked collapse because of the soil type and its behaviour. She said that parts of Festac Town sits on delicate soil but assured that engineering solutions were applied to estates built by the Federal Government.
She said, “Anytime from now when our management gives approval and the task force is ready for us, we will swing into action.
“We are going to demolish especially structures that are on our major roads; the buildings lack structural integrity because they (owners) never came to us for any approval.
“Our professionals did not supervise the constructions, we don’t even know the integrity of structures that they are building on site in this era of building collapse.”
The FHA director revealed that it had had the title document for the total land of 2,24.6 hectres in the FESTAC master plan, warning that illegal developers were building on Federal Government land.
She added that there is a structure being constructed on a major road in FESTAC, and after the property was served a ‘stop work’ order and demolition notice, the owner continued building and started painting. She added that houses were being constructed on illegally-acquired land in FESTAC Town, and on road setbacks, drains and other infrastructure.
The FHA announced that the demolition process would commence from 7th Avenue and 9th Avenue and would later be extended up till 11th Avenue.
Good. Please include shanties springing up inside the closes. These shanties can be found also at the back of blocks of flats. And please do not forget 5th Avenue.