FESTAC Demolition: Engineer Cries Out as FHA Destroys ₦500m Property

By Ifeoma Ikem 

A civil engineer, Mr. McDonald Ejiofor, has lamented the demolition of his ₦500 million property by officials of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) at 6th Avenue, FESTAC Town, Lagos, describing the incident as the total destruction of years of labour and dreams.

Ejiofor, 48, alleged that officials of the FHA, accompanied by policemen attached to the Lagos State Taskforce and some hired thugs, stormed his residence at Plot 1892, Route 65, Caravan Estate, on Saturday, October 11, 2025, and began pulling down his structure while his family was still inside.

He said he legally acquired the land from the Kuje family in 2016, following a Federal High Court judgment that, according to him, granted ownership of the disputed area to the family.

According to Ejiofor, trouble started after he moved into the property nine months ago, following a claim by a lawyer (name withheld) that the same plot had been allotted to him by the FHA.

“The same month we moved in, my painter called me that one Barrister Ferdinand Obiora came with some hoodlums, vandalized my gate, arrested my workers, and took them to FESTAC Police Station,” he recounted. “I was later informed by the police that a man claimed to be the main allottee of the land from FHA. I had to consult my lawyer, who secured the release of my workers since I was not in Lagos then.”

Ejiofor said the FHA later pasted a demolition notice on his property. “I sent the notice to the lawyer representing the Kuje family, because the case is still in court,” he explained.

“The Federal High Court had given judgment in favour of the family in 2016, but FHA appealed. The case is presently before the Lagos State High Court, which ordered all parties to maintain the status quo until judgment is delivered.”

He expressed shock that despite the pending case, the FHA went ahead with the demolition. “On Saturday morning, while I was out playing football, I got several missed calls. When I returned the calls, my neighbours told me to rush home because FHA officials were demolishing my building,” he said.

“Before I got there, they had already brought down the fence and cut my building into two. My wife was still inside when they started. People were shouting, telling them someone was inside, but they didn’t listen. My furniture, electronics, machines, documents, certificates, passport, and clothes were all buried under the debris.”

Ejiofor further alleged that when he and his family tried to salvage their belongings the next day, security personnel descended on them. “Over 30 policemen in six Hilux vans stormed the site.

They beat me, my wife, and my brother, threw us into a Black Maria, and took us to the Taskforce cell in Oshodi. They later forced me to sign an undertaking not to return to the property,” he claimed.

When Vanguard visited 6th Avenue on Tuesday, more than 15 structures had already been demolished, leaving residents and traders in shock. The demolition was still ongoing as bulldozers pulled down buildings while traders displayed their goods beside the wreckage.

A Lagos State government-branded bulldozer was also seen at the site. Officials were pointing out more structures marked for demolition. Some residents alleged that the exercise was selective, claiming that while some properties were spared, others—mostly privately developed—were deliberately targeted.

A resident of FESTAC Town and former Commissioner for Information in Anambra State, Mr. Paul Nwosu, described the demolition as unfair and lacking in human consideration.

He said many of the affected traders were not issued prior notices.

“I was passing here on Saturday when I saw them destroying shops. I was told it was for encroachment,” he said.

“But if you look closely, you’ll see the gutter and a clear setback. These buildings are in alignment with others. How then did they encroach?”

He added: “Even if they didn’t have permits, they could have been asked to regularize. Destroying people’s means of livelihood without notice is wicked. These are investments—people’s sweat and life savings.”

Reacting to allegations of brutality, the Lagos State Taskforce dismissed claims that its officers unjustly arrested Ejiofor’s family members or other residents.

In a viral video, a woman identified as “Oneway” accused the Taskforce of unlawfully detaining her husband and others during the demolition. However, the agency said those arrested were caught attacking officials with stones and dangerous weapons in an attempt to obstruct the lawful demolition of structures encroaching on FHA land.

It alleged that the woman’s husband had initially tried to bribe the demolition team to halt the exercise but turned violent when his offer was rejected.

Chairman of the Agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, condemned the attack and warned that obstructing law enforcement officers from carrying out their duties constitutes a criminal offence.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has denied involvement in the demolition exercise.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, stated that the state government was not part of the operation and that all demolitions carried out in the state follow due process, including notices and stakeholder engagement.

He emphasized that all agencies, including federal ones, must seek clearance from the Ministry before conducting any demolition. “We want to assure residents that the Lagos State Government remains committed to fairness, due process, and the protection of property rights. Any demolition carried out without proper authorization does not represent the position of this administration,” Olumide said.

Efforts to reach officials of the Federal Housing Authority were unsuccessful. However, some of its concessionaires, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that most of the demolished properties were not acquired through the FHA and challenged the affected persons to produce their documents.