With local government elections approaching in Lagos State, residents of the Festac-Amuwo area have called on the President to declare a state of emergency in the community, citing unbearable living conditions.
The residents, under the platform of the Take Back Festac-Amuwo Initiative, staged a walk to highlight the deplorable state of the area, decrying the presence of illegal structures, poor roads and deteriorating sanitary conditions.
They insisted that the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda must begin to reflect in their environment.
Chairman of the initiative, Mr Valentine Uduebor, urged the member representing Amuwo-Odofin in the House of Representatives to prioritise the Festac area, which he described as his primary constituency, and work towards restoring order and liveability in the community.
He outlined the group’s key demands, which include access to motorable roads, healthcare, security, a clean environment and peace. According to him, “Access is a key determinant of development. Once there is no road, there is no response. In the case of any emergency, security personnel cannot respond because there is no road. A short drive within Festac lands you at the mechanic.”
Uduebor expressed concern that political positions within the local government are often occupied by individuals with no roots in the community. “Because we have kept quiet for too long, people who have no business in Festac are becoming councillors, supervisors, and collecting revenue in a community they know nothing about,” he said.
Another member of the group, Iziegbe Ekpe, said their campaign is aimed at saving a dying and dilapidated community. “Not everyone can japa,” she noted, emphasising the need for indigenous residents to stand up for their land. “We cannot rear cattle or sheep in the community, and walkways must not be turned into Okada repair shops or mini-markets.”
Ekpe also accused the local government of overlooking local youths when hiring, preferring non-residents instead. She added that market women are being heavily taxed and exploited under the guise of revenue collection.
Vice Chairman of the initiative, Chief Williams Abuachi, lamented that many notable residents have left the area due to insecurity and decaying infrastructure. “Festac was once a safe haven, but it has become a den of criminality. You won’t believe that Okada riders with no address or identification now harass landlords and residents,” he said.
According to Abuachi, residents have no access to basic public facilities. He described the outgoing council chairman as “the worst we have ever had” and vowed that the group would begin to hold future office holders accountable.
“Festac-Amuwo will no longer be neglected by the government,” he declared.
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