LASG, FHA firm up plan to restore federal govt’s estates

…Inaugurates technical committee

THE Lagos State government and the Federal Housing Authority have firmed up plans to restore federal government estates in the state, and a technical committee has been inaugurated to that effect.

Speaking at the committee inauguration yesterday, at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engr. Abiola Kosegbe, said that the fast degrading condition of  federal government’s estates in Lagos, especially Festac Town and Gowon Estate, Ipaja necessitated the constitution of the committee to see to the restorations of these estates.  

According to Kosegbe, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had thrown his weight behind the collaborative effort to revamp the estates, having been aware of the enormous urban planning challenges that the slumming of sprawling estates would create for Lagos.

He 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.

“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,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated Technical Committee, the Zonal Manager, Federal Housing Authority, Arc. (Mrs.) Bada remarked that she is excited by the synergy between the Lagos government and the Federal Housing Authority, which she described as long-awaited and capable of turning around the fortune of the estates for the benefit of all stakeholders including Lagos government in whose jurisdiction the estates are located.

Members of the 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.