By Yinka Kolawole
Lagos State Government and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) have set up a joint committee to work out an amicable settlement of a dispute between them over sites acquired in the state for the suspended National Housing Programme (NHP).

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola gave the directive for the setting up of the committee while receiving the Chairman of the governing board of the Authority, Mrs. Chidi Onyemeluke, in his office. The committee headed by the governor’s Special Adviser, Mr. Sunny Ajose, is to submit its report within four weeks.

Fashola expressed dismay with the way some of the sites were acquired by military fiat adding that the relationship between FHA and the state must henceforth be guided by law.

He said the relationship between the due was that of lessee and lessor adding that each of them must be ready to perform the obligations attached to their rights.

The governor said he was unhappy that FESTAC town had become a big sore and urged the Authority to hasten its regeneration efforts in the estate. Earlier, Onyemelukwe, accompanied by the Managing Director, Mr. Terver Gemade, and other members of the Authority’s top management said the FHA appreciated the great transformation taking place in Lagos and wished to partner with government. She promised that as a good corporate citizen, the Authority would operate under the law.

In his presentation, Gemade said the Authority was under pressure from depositors and contractors to who it had commitments under the NHP. He appealed to the governor to provide titles for FHA’s various land holdings in the state to enable it meet such obligations.

He noted that the state government had issued a stop work order on some sites and pleaded with the governor to lift the embargo.

Gemade also implored the state government to make new land allocations to FHA along the Lagos_Badagry expressway for the development of a new town. He said the Authority had commenced discussions with UN_HABITAT for the regeneration of FESTAC Town and pleaded with the governor to grant approval for the state to collaborate with FHA in its plans to rehabilitate the infrastructure in the estate.