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Tag: festac

  • Lightning strike kills 2 women in Festac

    Lightning strike kills 2 women in Festac

    Two women have lost their lives after being struck by lightning during the rain in the FESTAC area of Lagos State.

    Police spokesman in the state, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known in a post he shared on his X handle – @benHundeyin, on Saturday.

    Hundeyin said that the incident happened during the rain on Friday.

    “Somewhere on First Avenue, FESTAC, two women remained indoors during the downpour yesterday.

    “Lightning struck, electrocuting them instantly and causing a fire outbreak,” he said.

    According to him, the victims live in a shanty built under high-voltage wires.

    The spokesman sympathised with the deceased, and prayed that their souls rest in peace.

  • Over 10,000 must be demolished for Festac Town to return to its original master plan – FHA

    Over 10,000 must be demolished for Festac Town to return to its original master plan – FHA

    The Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Oyetunde Ojo, has said that at least 10,000 buildings will be demolished to return Festac Town to its original master plan.

    He also blamed the total collapse of infrastructure in Festac on the failure of those in charge in the past to carry out their constitutional duties, as well as on Amuwo Odofin Local Government and residents.

    Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, who gave this indication during the quarterly general meeting of the Festival Town Residents Association held on 512 Road, however, said that they are ready to restore the past glory of Festac Town.

    Represented by the Executive Director in the FHA, Architect Ezekiel Ini Etok, Ojo charged the Amuwo Odofin Local Government to prioritize infrastructure development in the area.

    He also said that the residents will stand against any move by the FHA to correct the mistakes of the past while promising to collaborate with the council to address the challenges.

    The FHA boss explained that he was prepared to serve from day one in line with the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu.

    He cautioned residents against building without proper approval, adding that weeks of grace would be given to those who are yet to regularize their papers to do so.

    On his part, the South West Zonal Chairman of the FHA, Akin Olagbemiro, showcased the agreement signed on the 21st of April, 1988 between the FHA and the council authorities. He said that the Local Government, as the collector of Tenement Rate, shall maintain the roads, drainages, streetlights, and open spaces within the area.

    He also said that all avenues in Festac shall be designated as state roads, while all roads and closes shall be under the purview of the Local Government.

    Mr. Olagbemiro, however, noted that in 2021, some parts of Festac that were not motorable were fixed at the time.

    The President of the Festival Residents Association, Barr. Adeshina Adegbenro, said the entire Festac is facing enormous challenges, including bad roads, irregular power supply, and environmental degradation.

    He said every community in the area is faced with peculiar problems, which necessitated the need for the quarterly meeting.

    According to him, the residents expect to see positive developments before the end of the year through the intervention of the FHA.
    In his speech, Alhaji Olaseeni Ogunjobi, the chairman of Community 2, demanded the assistance of the Federal Housing Authority in restoring Festac Town to its enviable glory.

    He lamented that all the existing facilities, including walkways, have been overtaken by vendors of all sorts, with shops illegally erected while vandalism is on the rise within the estate.

    The chairman also noted the menace of the cart refuse collectors and their indiscriminate dumping of refuse in any available space within the estate.

    He appealed to the FHA Managing Director to help protect Victory Park from land grabbers, adding that the community has 25,000 residents and is the largest of the FTRA communities.

    Other stakeholders at the meeting jointly agreed to work with the leadership of the FHA and desist from the lawless acts responsible for the environmental degradation of Festac Town.

  • Festac demolition: FHA denies breaching court order

    Festac demolition: FHA denies breaching court order

    The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) on Wednesday denied breaching any court order restraining it from demolishing 600 houses at 6th Avenue, Festac Town in Lagos State.

    The agency made the denial during proceedings in a case of alleged demolition of 600 buildings and partial demolition of 700 buildings in spite of a court order.

    The case is before Justice Akintunde Savage of an Ikeja high court.

    Counsel to the claimants, Mr Adetayo Bello, had told the court that he obtained the restraining order, but counsel to the FHA, Mr Chris Ekemezie, denied knowledge of the order, arguing  that the agency did not breach any court order.

    The claimants/applicants  are Mr Samuel Ahmed, Martinson Realtors Investment Ltd., Alhaja Taoheed Amusa and Alhaja R. A. Balogun.

    “We are a law-abiding government agency, and we did not defy any court order,” Ekemezie said.

    He told the court that the counsel to the claimants did not serve the agency the court process.

    Bello, thereafter, sought extension of the court order.

    The judge, however,  questioned the validity of the request.

    Savage ruled that, given that the claimants’ counsel had alleged breach of the order,  the prayer would not be granted.

    The judge adjourned the matter until Feb. 20 to consider the concerns of all parties involved.

    In September 2023, the claimants/applicants  sought an ex-parte order to stop  FHA from the demolition.

    They filed a  motion ex-parte  with suit No. ID/7396GCM/2023 and dated Sept. 7, 2023.

    The application was brought before Justice O. J. Awope of an Ikeja High Court  who was  a  vacation judge  at the time –  Sept. 11, 2023.

    The application was supported by a 40-page affidavit deposed to by the fourth claimant, Balogun, and one Mr Thaddeus Idenyi.

  • JUST IN: Tension in FESTAC town as govt reveals plan to demolish 677 Houses

    JUST IN: Tension in FESTAC town as govt reveals plan to demolish 677 Houses

    The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has revealed a plan to demolish 677 houses, while 744 others will be partially demolished over infringement by a developer in Phase 2, Festac Town, Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State.

    FHA’s South-West Zonal Manager, Mr. Akintola Olagbemiro, disclosed this during a visit to the affected area to assess level of disregard to building codes and the environment.

    According to Olagbemiro, despite letters and stakeholders’ meetings, the developers have continued to build on the swampy land without meeting the requirements.

    He said: “After so many years of trying to get into the property belonging to FHA, which we labelled as Festac Phase 2. There has been encroachment and illegal development and it’s turning the place into a slum. We are trying to see how best we can resolve it and make people live in a more serene environment. Unfortunately, there have been cases of illegal developers and land grabbers.”

    Deputy General Manager, FHA, Urban and Regional Planning, Southwest, Francisca Michael-James, said: “We have given the residents several notices but to our surprise, works are still going on, without regard to the law.

    “Now we have the permission of our management and we will ask for security back up and start enforcement. We will start removing structures from the roads and those on pipelines set back.

    “We will also remove the buildings constructed after the stakeholders’ meetings where we agreed that everyone should wait until we are done with our assessment but some of them continued to build and concluded that we will regularise, but regularisation is not automatic. Now, the ones that did not meet regularisation will have to go.”

    Speaking on punishment for contravenors, she said: “In the law, if we demolish, we are supposed to penalise the owner of the building and charge for the fees for the cost of carrying out the operation. Assuming any of the buildings collapsed, the landlord will be charged for manslaughter but the first point of call will be pointing accusing fingers at the agency so, as to avoid that, that’s why we want to carry out the enforcement. The enforcement will be done soon.

    “The first thing we are doing is to clear the road; some of the buildings will be partially demolished for right of way. 677 houses will be demolished and 744 will be demolished partially.”

  • Low voter turnout heralds governorship election in FESTAC Town

    Low voter turnout heralds governorship election in FESTAC Town

    Low turnout of voters heralded the governorship and House of Assembly elections in parts of sprawling FESTAC Town in Lagos on Saturday.

    No voter was seen at some polling units as at 8.40 a.m.

    Law enforcement agents and those of para-military agencies were ubiquitous in most parts of the town to ensure security.

    A voter, Mr. Sulaimon Ojo, said he arrived at his polling unit in FESTAC Town from nearby Maza-Maza area at about 8 a.m. only to find that the exercise had yet to take off.

    “I will wait patiently because I want to be part of good governance,’’ he told NAN

  • Woman caught on camera assaulting a policeman [VIDEO]

    Woman caught on camera assaulting a policeman [VIDEO]

    A woman has been caught on camera assaulting a policeman in the FESTAC area of Lagos.

     

    The woman shouted in the face of the policeman and held his uniform, angry that he had threatened to shoot her.

     

    Woman caught on camera assaulting a policeman (VIDEO)

     

    Netizens reaction to the incident

    DonNweze @Don_Dee_donald said: “Nigerian Police is very good at recording their victims’ reactions, and will seize your phone for attempting to record their own intimidations and harrassments that led to the reaction. I know this from personal experience. You threatened to gun her; yes or no?”
    According to aabibat @aabibat, “This woman action is uncalled for. Lets give it to her that the policemen made a threat to gun her, still she went beyond what is expected. The policeman, definitely from what the video portrayed acted well disciplined. Kudos to him.”
    ?????? ????? @MasterPackerPut noted that, “This is a née strategy from the Nigerian police. They will purposely annoy you so you will react. Then they will make a video of it and say you assaulted them. The Nigerian police are doing massive image cleaning now and they are using innocent civilians to do this. Be warned!”
    De UniQue @Abdulkarim2 maintained that, “All I love and learn here is the Calmness and patience of the police officer assaulted. Coz I know I believe if this to be in UK or USA,  I promise you this lady will be dealt with seriously. Another thing i don’t understand is what would happen come next year.
    Objective Kenny @kenecuku explained that “The so called gentle policeman asked the lady to “hold me na” knowing his colleague wants to film that part(they need her to repeat since they didn’t capture it b4)She played into their game/trap.Now she is telling d policeman to repeat his threats,the man pam” cos he’s on film

    Watch video below:

     

  • FHA cautions public against illegal land deals in FESTAC

    FHA cautions public against illegal land deals in FESTAC

    The Federal Housing Authourity (FHA) has raised an alarm over illegal and fraudulent advertisements to sell land in FESTAC Town, Lagos.

    Spokesman for the authority, Mr Kenneth Chigelu, in a statement on Thursday, urged members of the public to disregard the advertisements.

    He said some fraudsters were currently advertising property at FESTAC Town with the intention to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

    “Our attention has been drawn to the activities of unscrupulous persons claiming to be agents of the FHA for the sale of land in FESTAC Town,” he said.

    Chigelu said FHA did not appoint anybody or organisation as its agent, saying, “those putting up such advertisement are mere impostors.

    “Members of the public are warned not to do business with these impostors. The said advertisement is a scam.”

    The FHA spokesman urged the public to deal directly with the authority’s managing director or zonal managers when making land transactions.

    “Meanwhile, the areas being advertised by fruadsters in FESTAC Town are not even for sale. We don’t relate with the public through agents in any way.

    “Anyone who deals with the impostors does so at their own risks,” he said.

  • Lai Mohammed clears air on renaming National Theatre in Lagos

    Lai Mohammed clears air on renaming National Theatre in Lagos

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has stated that the federal government is not re-naming the entire Lagos National Theatre complex, built-in 1976 to host the 1977 Festival of Arts, popularly known as FESTAC but rather renaming the complex housing the edifice.

    Mohammed, said the complex housing the National Theatre would be known as Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre, with four creative hubs and other facilities currently under construction.

    Mohammed made the clarification when he featured on “Good Morning Nigeria’’, a live programme on the Nigerian Television Authority, monitored by newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

    “The controversy on the re-naming of the National Theatre is just a storm in a teacup.

    “What we said in Spain was that there are lots of developmental projects going on within the National Theatre complex.

    “You have the National Theatre fully refurbished and renovated, you also have four hubs each for music, fashion, IT and film. You cannot call all of them National Theatre again.

    “The entire complex is what will be known as the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre, comprising the National Theatre and the four hubs.’’

    Mohammed said the hubs were being built to provide capacity in the creative sectors.

    According to him, the music hub and the film hub will be respectively built and equipped with latest technology for recording and processing music and films.

    He said it would forestall Nigerian artists and film makers from going outside the country like South Africa and other places to record, process and package their music or films.

    In addition to the national theatre monument and the new four hubs, the minister said a modern police station, fire station and 500 capacity car park were also being constructed in the complex.

    The minister expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the enabling environment for investment of 100 million dollars by the Bankers Committee, led by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the project.

    “Regrettably, the National Theatre which was built in 1976 has been in a state of disrepair for decades without any form of renovation or proper maintenance.

    “I want to express our gratitude to the Bankers Committee because there was no way we would have funded this with our budget allocation

    “The donation of the 100 million-dollar investment in renovating the edifice and in developing the creative industry is an achievement of this administration.’’
    Mohammed also thanked the Lagos State Government for its invaluable contributions in making the dream possible.

    According to him, the Lagos State Government is investing a lot of money in the reclamation and dredging of the surrounding area which is by the lagoon.

    He said the Lagos State Government was working with experts and the Federal Ministry of Environment to restore the Ebute-Metta creek so that water within the wetland would be clean for restoration of the flora and fauna in the area.

    The minister added that the state was extending the blue rail line to have a terminal at the complex to ease traffic from and into the National Theatre and the hubs.

    He expressed his optimism that the National Theatre renovation project, the construction of the hubs and other facilities in the complex would be ready by November for the hosting of the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry.
    On April 19 in Madrid, Spain, the minister signed a hosting agreement for the global conference with the Secretary-General of United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Mr Zurab Pololikashvili.

    The conference which would hold from Nov. 14 to Nov. 17 is expected to re-position the creative industry as the engine of growth not just for Nigeria or Africa but for all countries of the world.

  • Liberian allegedly steals lover’s N12m, other property in Lagos

    Liberian allegedly steals lover’s N12m, other property in Lagos

    A 36-year-old Liberian, George Wade, on Thursday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing his lover’s property worth N14.05 million.

    The police charged Wade, who resides at Lekki, Lagos, with conspiracy and stealing.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty.

    According to the prosecutor, Insp Samuel Mishozunnu, the defendant committed the theft with others at large on Sept. 29, 2021, at Apple Junction, FESTAC Town , Lagos State.

    Mishozunnu alleged that the defendant stole $21,000 (N12.09 million), Samsung Galaxy S10 worth N450,000, Nokia phone worth N8,000 and necklace valued at N345,000.

    He added that Wade stole a gold wristwatch worth N250,000, voter’s card, driver’s licence, Fidelity and Zenith banks’ debit tokens, and one million Naira.

    The prosecutor told the court that the items belonged to Wade’s lover, Miss Faith Mabe.

    “She reported the case to the police, and the defendant was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

    He noted that conspiracy and stealing respectively contravened Sections 411 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 411 prescribes two years’ jail term for conspiracy while Section 287 stipulates three years’ imprisonment for stealing.

    The Magistrate, Mrs H.B. Mogaji, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Mogaji directed that the sureties should be gainfully employed and have evidence of two years’ tax payment to Lagos State Government.

    She adjourned the case until Feb. 2 for mention.

  • Lady who lodged with lover in Lagos hotel dies

    Lady who lodged with lover in Lagos hotel dies

    A certain lady identified as Esther, has died after lodging with her boyfriend, Emmanuel Isibor, at the T1 Suites in the Festac area of the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    TheNewsGuru gathered that the lovers visited the hotel to spend the night together.

    While in the room, it was learnt that Esther suddenly fell sick and in the process, foamy substances began coming out from her mouth and nostrils.

    Shaken by the turn of events, Isibor was said to have sought help by calling the manager of the hotel to rescue his girlfriend.

    In a bid to resuscitate her, it was gathered that Isibor and members of staff of the hotel quickly rushed Esther to a nearby hospital, but she died on the way.

    A source said that the doctor on duty at the hospital certified that Esther was brought in dead, adding that the manager of the hotel proceeded to the Festac Police Station to report the sad incident.

    “What happened on May 31, 2021 was that around 11.30pm, the manager of T1 Suites, Obijomi Adedeji, reported that one of the lodgers, Emmanuel Isibor, came with his girlfriend, Esther.

    “But around 11pm, Emmanuel Isibor called on the manager for assistance as the lady developed a sudden ailment, which caused foamy substances to come out from her mouth and nostrils.

    “She was rushed to the First Line Hospital, where a doctor pronounced her dead” the source recounted.