Featured

Deterioration of FESTAC Town, a Collective Blame, Says FHA MD, Gbenga Ashafa

Published

4 years ago

September 11, 2020

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has said that no one particularly group or person should be blamed for the present degradation of the FESTAC Town, located along the Badagry Expressway, Lagos, rather it is a collective responsibility as everyone should be blamed.

The MD made the assertion while conducting a tour of the facilities of the agency as he just took charge of affairs. He noted that he was appalled at the level of rot and degradation of the large estate, which used to be the pride of Lagos State in particular, and the nation at large.

The senator, who exhibited genuine effort to begin the reactivation of all Federal government owned estates as the new MD, beginning with FESTAC Town, harped on the fact that all hands must be on deck in bringing about lasting unity of purpose, and also achieve the aim of the new management.

Kicking off the tour from the agency’s zonal office at 211 Road FESTAC Town, Senator Ashafa, accompanied by the Executive Director, Business Development, Hon Abdulmumuni Jibril, a former House of Representatives member, and members of the management committee of FHA, and armed with the estate’s master plan, made his first stopover at the FESTAC Second Gate, better known as Agboju, where he was briefed.

He made a second stop at the canal end of 6th Avenue. Here the MD noted with disgust that there has been hindrance for the free flow of water as the canal has been blocked by all manner of dirts, creating an unwholesome atmosphere. He described what he saw as ‘eyesore and heartrending’.

The third point of inspection was the second phase of FESTAC Town, where the MD described as lamentable, saying that ‘even as they have dragged themselves to court over the legality and illegality of occupation by the company that was concession the land and the omoniles – the chieftaincy family claiming the land, they still continued to build. That shows that something has to be done quickly. We will inform the authorities.’

He assured that with the cooperation of the entire of FHA family which has been pledged, the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN, ‘towards ensuring urban regeneration and renewal of this estate in totality will be actualised’.

He was quick however, to add that it may not be almost immediately or in the next one or two years, but definitely, the management will hit the ground running soon. He reiterated also that much may not be done on the second phase as a result of the litigation question. He further assured that FESTAC Town will be on the priority list of the tripartite agreement reached by the Federal Government, Lagos State government and the FHA.

The entourage’s last point of call was the FHA Sports Ground on 24 Road. Here, the MD interacted with the people, assuring them that government has the best of their interest at heart.

“We are looking at a situation where we could get well meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies could partner with us and buy into this mini stadium. A little token might come, but the principal motive for giving it out will not be for money venture. It is just going to be something that will be enough to maintain the place, and let the people own it. It is not out redemption. A lot will be done as we are already talking to some well meaning people.”

Senator Ashafa went down memory lane, explaining why the FESTAC Town as a project is unique:

“When this estate was planned, it was planned for 200, 000 units. This actually is humongous. We know why it was built in the first place. People from all over the came and lived here, and enjoyed all the services, and they were upper class then. Now, if we are talking about the explosion that happened, we will discover that it shots up to 600, 000 – I’m sure it’s almost 700, 000 now. The green areas have been built up; there are mechanics all over the place and there is no control whatsoever in terms of traffic. This is FESTAC that used to adhere strictly to traffic laws. In fact, we are going to start with something definitely,” he said.

Featured

Stay Away from CBT Centres, JAMB Warns Parents, Threatens Arrest

Published

17 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

As this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) begins on Friday, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has vowed to arrest parents found near any Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre during the 2024 UTME exercise.

The directive was issued at the final briefing of the CBT centre owners, which was held virtually on Wednesday, 17th April, 2024.

The spokesman for JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, said this directive became necessary following the intrusive disposition of some parents during the Board’s previous exercises.

Benjamin, who quoted JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said any parent, who disobeys the order would not only be arrested but his ward would also be disqualified from sitting for the examination.

Oloyede explained that this measure became necessary as it has been discovered over time that many of these intruding parents are facilitators of examination infractions while others have, by their actions, disrupted the Board’s examinations in the past.

He added that some miscreants also disguise as parents to infiltrate the centres to perpetrate all forms of infractions.

“The Board’s helmsman noted that going by the extant national policy on education, a candidate for the examination must have attained the age of 17 years.

“Therefore, it is evident that these parents had not allowed their wards to pass through the classes as defined in the document, hence the desperation to follow their wards to the examination venue with the aim of compromising examination officials.

“At any rate, it is clear to any discerning observer that these parents deserve to be sanctioned as they had obviously ‘smuggled’ underage children into the ranks of those scheduled to sit the examination,” the Board note through a statement.

Furthermore, the Registrar said all arrangements have been concluded for the conduct of the 2024 UTME, which will be held in over 700 CBT centres across the nation.

He disclosed that the Board expects a seamless exercise but it has nevertheless made adequate provision to tackle any technical glitch that might occur in the course of the examination.

He, however, warned that if a session experienced any technical challenge, candidates in subsequent sessions would be allowed to sit their examination as scheduled while the candidates in the challenged session would be rescheduled for the last session for the day or the following day or even further depending on the centre schedules.

Featured

Oyo Govt Demolishes Operational Base of Yoruba Nation Agitators

Published

17 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

The Oyo State government, on Wednesday, demolished a building serving as the operational base of the Yoruba Nation agitators led by Modupe Onitiri-Abiola, in Ibadan.

Onitiri-Abiola, one of the widows of late Bashorun M.KO Abiola, had declared the creation of the so-called Yoruba Nation in a video posted online, which has been widely condemned.

Last Saturday, some armed men in military uniforms invaded the Oyo State Secretariat, with the motive to forcefully take over the State House of Assembly, before they were dislodged by the combined efforts of police and troops for the Nigeria Army 2 Division..

Mr. Fatai Owoseni, Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, confirmed the demolition of the house located at Toye Oyesola Street in Ibadan South West Local Government Area.

Already, no fewer than 29 suspects – including a lecturer – arrested in connection with the foiled armed invasion were on Wednesday arraigned by the police before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan.

In a case with charge number Mi/520c/2024 between the Commissioner of Police and the 29 suspects, they were accused of a seven-count charge of treasonable felony, unlawful society, illegal possession of firearms, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

Inspector Bakare Rasaq, the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, said the offence contravenes, and is punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

Featured

PDP BoT Queries Damagum, Anyanwu’s Continued Stay in Office

Published

18 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party has queried the continued stay in office of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.

Recently, many party members have raised concerns about the ongoing tenure of Damagum and Anywanwu in their respective positions.

Previously serving as the PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), Damagum assumed the role of acting National Chairman following the court’s suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in March of the preceding year.

With the National Secretary being selected as the PDP candidate for the Imo State 2023 governorship election, the South zone has been grappling with nominating a replacement. Despite this, he, along with other party leaders, contested and retained the position of party secretary after losing to Governor Hope Uzodinnma.

The Punch