Lagos: FHA moves to ban Okada riders in FESTAC town

The Federal Housing Authority says it will ban operations of commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, within the FESTAC town in Lagos State in order restore sanity and tackle security challenges in the estate. The ban, according to the authority, will take effect from early next year. This is just as the agency also frowned […]

The Federal Housing Authority says it will ban operations of commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, within the FESTAC town in Lagos State in order restore sanity and tackle security challenges in the estate.

The ban, according to the authority, will take effect from early next year.

This is just as the agency also frowned at the activities of petty traders which it said have been messing up the federal estate’s environment.

Speaking in Lagos on Monday during commissioning the newly renovated FESTAC first gate, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FHA, Oyetunde Ojo, said the move was part of the government’s efforts to restore the lost glory of FESTAC town.

He said the effort also aligns with the President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the FHA to build new estates and maintain old ones across the country.

Ojo expressed worry that FESTAC town which used to be one of the highbrow neighbourhoods in Lagos has been in a deplorable state.

“When we came in (one and half years ago), we realized that the entrance gate was in total collapse. The road, the first avenue was absolutely nowhere to go through, the darkness of the environment, in terms of the first avenue, second avenue and seventh avenue was also in total collapse.

“So, we decided to come one and a half years ago, to discuss with the residents, the local government and today we are commissioning the rehabilitation of the roads and the streetlights,” he said.

The MD said in order to bring sanity to the estate; there is a need to ban operations of commercial motorcyclists from early next year.

“We will soon stop Okada (operations) in FESTAC. We would do the second gate; we would do the third and we would liaise with you (residents). Maruwa and Korope should be enough.

“As we are also clearing the shanties. We want a decent FESTAC. We will all come together with the enforcement to make sure that ‘no more Okada riders’ and that must happen this year towards early next year,” he said.

Ojo also hinted on the ongoing new FESTAC project, which according to him, will turn the neighbourhood into a new Banana Island.

The Chairman of Amuwo – Odofin Local Government Area, Prince Lanre Sanusi, also insisted that “We will restore sanity and glory of FESTAC ’77.”

He said the council had begun clearing of shanties in the area and warned traders against returning to the affected areas.

Sanusi also urged residents to cooperate with the FHA and the council towards addressing the infrastructure challenges at the estate.

Responding, the President of Festival Town Residents Association (FTRA), Barr Mohammed Adegbenro, promised to protect the newly commissioned gate which he described as the face of FESTAC town and symbol of security and unity.

He also applauded the efforts of FHA, saying “we are enjoying the best of times for the first time in FESTAC town.”