By Kingsley Adegboye

Festival Town, popularly called “small London” when it was built over 30 years ago due to its beautiful layout and alluring scenery, is now a shadow of its old self, as filth is gradually taking over the sprawling town.

Worried by the decay, the chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area in Lagos State, Mr. Ayodele Adewale, has called on the residents and stakeholders to join hands with the Council to restore lost glory of the Town.

fAdewale who made the plea last week  at a Town Hall Meeting comprising the residents and  other stakeholders in the Festac project ,decried environmental pollution and degradation as well as defacing of the residential community.

According to him, the Town is fast becoming a slum following actions and in-actions of the residents. “This high level environmental degradation is a common sight in this local government. This is so much that, our once beautiful community that we are trying to reposition is now put in reversal by the careless act of a few. It is now common to see people doing their businesses on walkways, median, and recreational parks. They are involved in improper waste management, unsanitary practices and cause noise pollution with impunity.

‘’I wish to use this medium to appeal to all genuine stakeholders of Amuwo-Odofin project that all your civic actions must be complimentary to government’s effort if our society must move forward. As a government, we will not relent in discharging our constitutional responsibility to protect our environment, and the only way is to use the mighty arm of the law against any offender, without fear or favour’’, he said.

Adewale who stated that the Council has concluded plans to embark on some lofty programmes that will improve on the lives of the resident of the area by creating job opportunities for the teeming youths in the community and enhancing the environment, called on the residents and corporate bodies doing business in the local government to ensure they pay their taxes promptly.

‘’I have always said that no government can succeed relying on statutory allocation from the state government. We have, and we are still working hard to create an enabling environment for corporate excellence in the local government area so that in turn, everybody will pay their taxes, levies and rates as applicable.

“Our lofty programmes demand huge fund for actualization and that is where you all come in as responsible citizens of our community. For instance, we intend to embark on huge projects that will bring positive bearing on our people. One of these is the new water transport scheme.

‘’We are planning the council flat housing project that has 24 flats, and to be equipped with a mini mart, swimming pool and other amenities. There are also the 206 and 204 recreation parks, the Amuwo-Odofin Bus Transit Scheme, the ultra-modern civic centre at 1st  Gate, the proposed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Freedom House legislative building, the construction of town hall, renovation of schools and boreholes at the riverine communities.

‘’We have embarked on a series of journey overseas to discuss with international partners on investment opportunities in our community in the areas of environmental sustainability, safe energy production, youth empowerment, transportation and a whole lot more.

“In all of these, which have been projected to create over 6,000 jobs, we cannot play down your support if we are to achieve these goals. It is on this note I would like to sue for the patience and understanding of all. These two virtues are required for a government to succeed,” he said.