There was jubilation among some residents in FESTAC Town, Lagos, at the weekend when the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Senator Gbenga Ashafa, handed over the six-acre Mechanic Village/Market to artisans.
Ashafa said at the new site on 6th Avenue that the ceremony was in line with his promise to restore the lost glory of the 45-year-old town.
Ashafa was represented by Mr. Akintola Olagbemiro, FHA Southwest Zonal Manager. The latter presented the site to the Nigerian Automobile Technician Association (NATA).
He said: “Let me quickly add that the place of mechanics, technicians, and artisans can never be underestimated in any society. Their overall importance in any economy is not of low profile because of the essential nature of their trade.
“The value chain they add to the economy is quite enormous, owing to the many jobs and employment they create through service deliveries.
“We, in FHA, will do all we can within our reach to make you comfortable, relevant and organised,” he said. He urged the leadership of NATA, FESTAC branch, to ensure orderly business premises and collaboration with all tiers of government and other stakeholders for peaceful coexistence.
“With the success of today, it has been officially declared illegal for any auto mechanic to operate in any other part of FESTAC Town.
“We also implore the auto mechanic/technician leadership to help relevant authorities concerned with the security and sanitation of FESTAC Town, by compelling all your members to avail themselves of this facility,” he said.
Ashafa pledged continuous collaboration of FHA with the artisans and other stakeholders and thanked the FESTAC Town Residents Association, security agencies and other stakeholders for their patience.
He said the FHA would liaise with the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area and other stakeholders towards Right of Way (RoW) recovery.
Ashafa added that FHA surveyors had taken the measurements of the site for laying of the beacons on the new site.
The Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area (AOLG), Mr. Valentine Buraimoh, said the move would bring added development, not only to FESTAC Town, but to the entire community.
Buraimoh, however, noted that there was need to hold a stakeholders meeting to determine how the space allocated could be maximised.
“We need to get ideas and suggestions on how best we can use the space given to us,” he said.
NATA members, led by the immediate past chairman of the Amuwo Odofin Local Government (AOLG) Area, Mr Ayodele Adewale, marched in joy to the venue to take possession of the facility.
Adewale told reporters that he was overwhelmed with joy that efforts of his tenure to ensure that the artisans and traders take possession of the site allocated to them in the original Master plan of FESTAC Town, had become a reality.
The Chairman of NATA, Mr Yunusa Elekolomo said: “I am happy that finally this site that rightly belongs to us is being given to us today. Since the 70s, we have suffered a lot of encroachment on this land, we have suffered too much, I will say that today that we are taking possession is my happiest day.”
Earlier, President, FESTAC Town Residents Association (FTRA), Mr. Shola Fakorede, said enough sensitisation was carried out for residents and artisans to embrace the project which had become a reality.
– Media Report