Group urges Sanwo-Olu to probe waterfront ministry’s activities

The Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) has urged Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to beam searchlight on the activities of the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure to unravel issues of public concerns and suspicions regarding the arbitrary award of dredging contracts.

The CHSR, which raised the concern, yesterday, during a media briefing held at the Liberation Centre, Ijaiye, Lagos, enjoined the governor to ensure thorough diligence in the selection of contractors to ensure remedy to the poor implementation of ongoing works.

President of the human rights group, Alex Omotehinse, who spoke on behalf of civil society stakeholders, demanded immediate intervention of the governor towards ensuring that resources are no longer diverted, “but to also ensure that only contractors with requisite competence, as well as required expertise and equipment, are awarded the dredging of waterways to facilitate the rapid transformation of water infrastructure in Lagos State.

Omotehinse said that as stakeholders, they consider it pertinent to call on the governor to undertake appraisals of the ministry, under Yacoob Ekundayo Alebiosu, regarding poor execution of dredging and water transportation projects across the state. He expressed regret that the commissioner did not provide accurate and substantial information on the prevailing situation concerning the ongoing dredging of waterways across the state.

“Without a 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 per cent completion stage while both the Ijede Shoreline/Protection Jetty and Mowo Ojoo Jetty stand at 48 per cent 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 an immediate assessment of the progress of works and ensure proper implementation,” he submitted.