DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Festac residents protest alleged sale of estate facilities

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Residents of Festac Town, Lagos, protested the alleged sale of public infrastructure, including sewage treatment facilities and waterworks.
  • The Take Back Festac Movement warned of environmental and public health risks, accusing the Federal Housing Authority of disposing of public facilities.
  • The group called for intervention from the state governor and President, alleging misuse of the president's name to justify sales and excessive charges.

Residents of Festac Town in Lagos are protesting what they call the illegal sale of critical public infrastructure within the estate. The Take Back Festac Movement organized a peaceful demonstration to highlight the alleged disposal of facilities like sewage treatment plants, waterworks, parks, and buffer zones.

We are living in bondage here. Our lives are under threat.

— Valentine UdueboDescribing the situation in Festac Town due to the alleged sale of public facilities.

The movement's president, Valentine Uduebo, stated that the sale of these facilities poses serious environmental and public health risks. He specifically pointed to sewage management facilities being sold to individuals intending to build food-related businesses on them. Uduebo also claimed that the Waterworks facility on 22 Road has been sold.

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.

— Valentine UdueboPointing out a specific example of a sold sewage treatment facility.

Uduebo accused officials of the Federal Housing Authority of selling off public amenities. He expressed concern that the president's name is being used to legitimize these transactions, which he described as harmful to the community. "Our children’s playgrounds and parks are disappearing," he said, lamenting the loss of recreational spaces.

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.

— Valentine UdueboAddressing claims that the president approved the sales of public facilities.

Furthermore, the group alleged that residents face excessive charges and multiple fees from different government agencies for property transactions and approvals. They view these as double taxation and extortion. The activist appealed to President Bola Tinubu to investigate these sales and sanction those responsible, emphasizing the need to restore safety, environmental integrity, and sanity to the estate.

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

— Valentine UdueboExpressing dismay over the loss of recreational spaces in the estate.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog