The Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) under the aegis of the Civil Society Stakeholders have tasked the Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to urgently review the ongoing dredging and water transportation projects across the state, so as to forestall shoddy delivery and substandard infrastructure in the sector.
In a press briefing addressed by the group on Thursday, CHSR urged the Governor Sanwo-Olu to undertake appraisals of the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development under Hon. Yacoob Ekundayo Alebiosu regarding poor execution of dredging and water transportation projects across Lagos State.
The National President of the group Comrade Alex Omotehinse alongside other notable right activists maintained that except a speedy assessment of the projects, the Governor’s campaign promises in this regard might end up a mere political gimmick.
“This call has become necessary because the hope of waterways transportation for improved accessibility and movements across the state may not materialise soonest in spite of promises by the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to deliver on his promise.
“It would be recalled that during the electioneering campaign that ushered in Mr. Governor for a second term in office, promises were made to provide water transportation facilities to enhance accessibility to other parts of the state. However, recent happenings with regards to the implementation of projects raised doubts regarding the commitment of the Lagos State Government to fulfill its promises.
“Unfortunately, there were several misrepresentations during the Ministerial Press Briefing by the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development where the scorecard of the ministry was provided in commemoration of the first year’s anniversary of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
“It is regrettable that the Commissioner of Waterfront Infrastructure Development Hon. Yacoob Ekundayo Alebiosu did not provide accurate and substantial information on the prevailing situation with regards to ongoing dredging of waterways across the state.”
CHSR reiterates the economic importance of the infrastructure when in operation, adding that such should not be handled in a lackadaisical manner.
“Without doubt, water transportation infrastructure is a potential catalyst for transforming economic activities across communities and the neighbourhoods in Lagos State.
“Nevertheless, we have reasons to doubt the progress of works on ongoing project contrary to the commissioner’s claim that the Jetty at Amuwo Odofin is currently at 52 percent completion while both the Ijede Shoreline / protection Jetty and Mowo Ojoo Jetty stand at 48 percent Completion. We expect the commissioner to shed more light on the progress of reclamation projects across the state under his watch.
“There are concerns about shoddy works being carried out by the contractors, who from all indications, are either not well-equipped or competent enough to deliver. We are deeply concerned that these projects may end up being abandoned or lead to wastage of public resources unless Governor Sanwo-Olu undertakes immediate assessment of the progress of works and ensures proper implementation.
“It would be recalled that a CSO Group, under the aegis of Joint Youth Progressive Alliance (JYPA) had raised concerns regarding the channelisation projects being sloppily implemented. Hence, the renewed call on Governor Sanwo-Olu to investigate and correct prevailing anomalies.
“In the same vein, another CSO Group, Alliance for Accountability, Good Governance and Development (AAGGD) faulted the lackadaisical approach to the implementation of projects for the dredging by companies handling some of the projects for which huge sums of public resources have been released.”
According to the group ongoing projects eliciting concerns include the channelisation at Mende in the Maryland axis of Lagos metropolis for which substantial payments from contract sums are believed to have been made.
Adding that there are concerns by stakeholders including boat operators to the effect that the equipment deployed for dredging are low-graded and unfit to deliver on the specified job as expected. Therefore there is the need for Governor Sanwo-Olu to allay the fears of the public by conducting assessment of the state of projects awarded by the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development without further delay.
“We are aware that residents in other areas to be linked with water transportation are worried about the neglect despite the promises made by Governor Sanwo Olu to ease their movements and to facilitate socio-economic activities by prioritizing water transportation.
“Some of the concerned residents are also alleging that the dredging activities along the waterways were not prioritised where they are mostly needed. Residents are displeased that the dredging of the waterways in critical areas where the project would offer huge relief to teeming population has been neglected.
“Some stakeholders are alleging diversion of funds released for dredging projects across the waterways in Lagos State through questionable appropriation by the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA).
“There are also concerns that some of the ongoing dredging projects were awarded to proxies of leading members in the administration of Governor Sanwo-Olu who has achieved very little or no progress in spite of payments received for the contracts awarded.
“More disturbing however is that some contractors handling ongoing dredging projects are said to lack the requisite expertise and without equipment to deliver quality jobs.”
The group’s demands are listed as follows: that that Governor Sanwo-Olu ensure a remedy on the poor implementation of ongoing works as well as conduct a thorough investigation into how dredging contracts are awarded as regards how contractors are selected. To ensure speedy transformation of the water infrastructure through selection of purely competent hands as contractors and prevention of diversion of resources meant for the projects execution as this they claim will help fast track socio-economic development across the state.