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Nigeria, FESTAC Town: 30 Years Later

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Posted by: CareTaker on November 15, 2007 Under: Discussion Lounge, Editor's Pick, Nigeria

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Adeola Aderounmu, a Nigeria blogger at “Thy Glory O Nigeria..!” writes about the decay that has befallen the once beautiful and pristine Festac town. festac.jpg“This year 2007 marks the 30th Anniversary of Festac Town as a residential area. Festac is still one of the largest residential estates south of Saharan Africa” is the opener of the two part series on Festac Town houses which were were thrown open the same year that Nigeria hosted the second World Black Festival of Arts and Culture in Lagos from January 15 to February 12, 1977.

The houses were constructed to “accommodate all classes of people in the Nigerian society-low, medium and high income earners”, Adeola writes.

How is Festac town today? Excerpts from “Thy Glory O Nigeria..!”:

After the mid 80s, the dwindling glory of Festac Town continued to take a turn for the worse. By the end of 1989, a lot of things have happened that revealed the recklessness of our administrators in Nigeria. The one that shook us most till today is how we lost our forest and all our playgrounds to construction of more houses in what became known as the fabricated and inglorious FHA plan B of Festac Town…

The popular FHA football field (where I spent my school breaks in primary school, watched glorious football tournaments and later played in competitions in my early teens) was sold to the first set of invasive millionaires that have just discovered Festac…

Overflowing sewages are common sights nowadays and the tenants have to contribute money to private firms to clear the mess.

Adeola’s articles beget some questions:

  • Why would the residents and home-owners allow this gross depreciation of their neighborhood?
  • In what ways could the homes-owners have dealt with the administrative, political or social obstacles that permitted the degradation of the community?
  • How can future government-financed estate developments avoid a festac-like scenario?

Read more about Festac town: Part 1 & Part 2

Image: Festac complex construction

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4 comment(s)

  1. Omotaylor | Nov 15, 2007 | Reply

    I recently asked the question on Lagos Mega City discussion why do Nigeria seem to make a slum of every classy and upcoming areas? The answer to this would help this topic a bit. Nigerian maintenance culture is next to Zero. Nigerian gutter attitude is vast and people need to be educated on being refined and polished. The government pays no mind to degradation and decay and sing of lofty projects to make a name and most Nigerians dont see the problem with their level of living. The whole of Lagos from Obalende to Allen Avenue – spreading North, South, East and West is an abyssmal picture.

    I once mentioned that Lagos Government should help paint up all houses even if paint subsidy is the way they can help. But then when people are still struggling to exist and survive, painting houses and brightening up Lagos would be the last on their mind you know. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

  2. CareTaker | Nov 15, 2007 | Reply

    Good question. The government has a role to play as much as the residents. Proper planning and simple enforcement of local ordinances and building codes will go a long way in preventing ‘rot’ and ‘decay’ in real estate developments.

    Imagine a new estate development that lacks efficient drainage systems…or proper road layout, or little or no green spaces, now add on top of this a zero-plan for maintenance and up-keep; you will agree it is just a matter of time before the estate becomes a slum.

  3. Omotaylor | Nov 16, 2007 | Reply

    Sometimes I feel frustrated that we all make good comments and useful observations and we dont know if those who can actualise or make things work are reading. I can see African Loft having its own space in one of the Nigerian papers in the future (like the Awodele or is it Awoyemi housecall), when we really get desperate and want the powers that be in Nigeria from Yaradua down to hear us. In the meantime we are still doing fine for this is just the start. All of a sudden I feel a bit better for every little helps. Dont all those tiny drops of water eventually make the mighty ocean? Lofters well done and keep it up. I get educated daily and inspired by some member’s comments. Well done.

  4. Dupe | May 22, 2008 | Reply

    I reside at festac and i have been staying there for the past 22yrs. It is so amazing to see the way obsolescence came into being as a result of neglegence on the part of the government. Festac used t be very beautiful as it was apprioprately planned. Bit the case now is very sad as the roads are bad, there is no water available as most people have resulted in the digging of bore holes, there is hardly ever electricity,the sewage system is very bad as bad odour can be perceaived oozing out of different plaves. I will like to use this medium to tell the Governor to try to restore this once a lovely place to dwell in to its mogern state.

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