PLANS by the Federal Government to redevelop the water-logged portions of Festac Town may have run into troubled waters as the Lagos authorities warned prospective consultants last week against embarking on the scheme.The government's agency, Federal Housing Authority (FHA) had recently announced it's intent to commence an ambitious reclamation and infrastructure development of Festac town, Phase II through a concessionaire; and hiring of competent and reputable indigenous and foreign firms to be engaged as cost consultant and independent engineer (IE) for the project.The project is approximately 1,100 hectares of swampy land and entails sand filling and provision of physical infrastructure to site through provision of roads, erection of at least four concrete deck bridge and two large cell box culverts for linking roads, water and electricity supply, sewage system and waste disposal.Festac Town is the first project of the FHA, which came into being through Decree 40 of 1973. It provided first-class accommodation for all delegates and visitors to the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture tagged FESTAC '77.Essentially, the cost consultant is expected to independently review all cost elements of the project and the long-term revenue accruing to the concessionaire and the government. For instance, review the quantities of the work items, rates of the work in line with current market trends, cost of various project components and determine the estimated total cost of the project as well as review the disposal price of plots and buildings to achieve value for money.Similarly, the IE will review the engineering design of all infrastructure components of the project in line with established best practices, review engineering design of buildings, bills of Engineering Measurements and Evaluation, monitor programmes of engineering works and buildings in line with agreed time line and provide professional advice on engineering related issues.But in reaction, Lagos Government through it's Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Hakeem Muri-Okunola advised prospective consultants, especially project cost consultants and independent engineer to be wary of embarking on a quagmire, which may be an exercise in futility.'The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola has directed that the general public, any or all interested professional firms intending to be engaged by FHA, be correctly fed with information, so that such interested members of the public are not erroneously led to engage in an exercise, which may end up to the frolic, unfortunately with huge colossal waste of financial resources.'The state admitted that FHA holds a registered Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy, but advised prospective consultants to undertake proper due diligence at the appropriate agencies of Lagos State. It stated 'that reclamation, environment and physical planning or development issues are within the enabling constitutional powers of the State and therefore will require due interaction and necessary approval of the requisite agencies of the government of the state, in this case, the Lagos State government.'FHA officials told The Guardian that their withdrawal ofthe request for technical experts was not as a result of the state's directive regarding its constitutional powers on matters relating to reclamation, physical planning and development issues.According to spokesperson for the agency, Mr. Tunde Ipinmisho, 'our withdrawal of the advert for reclamation and infrastructure development of Festac Phase II came almost a month before Lagos caveat emptor.'The withdrawal was just for some more professional input into the project. Lagos merely signifies their interest that the powers of the state government for development control be recognised and accommodated. We are meeting Governor Fashola soon to reassure him that their interests are recognised and accommodated.
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