FESTAC Renewal Begins as FHA Launches Major Infrastructure Projects
The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has commenced large-scale rehabilitation works in FESTAC Town, signalling the beginning of a long-anticipated regeneration programme aimed at restoring one of Lagos’s most iconic housing estates.
The first phase of the initiative covers the reconstruction of the estate’s First Gate, rehabilitation of First Avenue Road, and the installation of solar-powered streetlights.
Infrastructure Upgrades to Improve Security and Mobility
Speaking at the project inauguration, FHA Managing Director Hon. Oyetunde Ojo said the intervention fulfils commitments made when his administration was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 18 months ago.
“When I assumed office, FESTAC was in darkness, sanitation was poor, and key infrastructure had collapsed. We had to act,” Ojo stated, stressing that the improvements will enhance security, mobility, and sanitation across the estate.
Contracts for the rehabilitation of Fourth and Seventh Avenues have been awarded to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), while other works are being executed directly by FHA.
Ojo further announced that commercial motorcycles would be prohibited within the estate by 2026, with tricycles and shuttle buses designated as safer alternatives for intra-estate transport.
Financing and Long-Term Sustainability
Ojo noted that FHA has not received federal allocations since 2003 and appealed to residents to pay ground rents to sustain ongoing improvements. He also confirmed the revival of a 2,000-hectare sand-filling project that had been stalled for 15 years, alongside works to complete the Fourth Avenue bridge linking FESTAC with Ije-Dodo and Abule Ado.
According to FHA’s Projects Implementation Director, Oluremi Omowaiye, the agency has prioritised durability in construction, replacing substandard materials with interlocking stones. Estate Services Director Ezekiel Nya-Etok urged residents to cooperate during implementation, emphasising that disruptions would be temporary but necessary for long-term progress.
Stakeholder Support and Community Response
Community leaders have expressed strong support for the regeneration drive. FESTAC Residents’ Association President, Mohammed Adegbenro, called for strengthened collaboration between residents and the FHA. Amuwo Odofin Chairman, Lanre Sanusi, urged compliance with ground rent and waste management rules, while Lagos lawmaker Stella Osafile encouraged residents to protect and maintain the new infrastructure.
Outlook: Balancing Renewal and Preservation
The FHA’s rehabilitation effort marks a turning point for FESTAC, combining restoration with modernisation to secure the estate’s long-term livability. If executed to plan, the initiative could restore FESTAC’s status as a model housing estate in Lagos and demonstrate a template for estate renewal across Nigeria’s ageing urban developments.
