Lagos to blacklist contractors, firms flouting COVID-19 guidelines at construction sites

The Lagos State government yesterday said it will not hesitate to blacklist any contractor or firm found flouting COVID-19 guidelines at construction sites.

The Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, who disclosed this said the information has already been cascaded to all contractors and professionals working at its various housing schemes across the state. 
 
He enjoined all contractors and other professionals on-site at its various housing schemes to comply strictly with the recently released COVID-19 Guidelines on Construction Sites in Lagos State. Also, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Wasiu Akewusola, said all scheme officers have been directed to henceforth be at alert that no ongoing project has more than 15 workers per construction activity. 

He said: “All contractors have also been mandated to make adequate provisions for washing of hands and alcohol-based sanitizers for their work gangs. Social distancing of not less than five feet including compulsory use of facemasks should be adhered to by all workers on the sites.”

Meanwhile, it was a moment of joy for the vulnerable and indigent members of some communities across its operating states as an Israeli firm, Reynolds Construction Company (Nigeria) Ltd, popularly known as RCC, gave out palliatives to ease the pains of the lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

At the events held simultaneously across the locations, over 2,000 bags each containing 10kg rice, 2kg garri, 2kg Semovita, 40x70gr Indomie, 1kg milo, 850g milk, and 3kg cooking oil distributed through their community leaders. The presentations took place at their project site locations in Nasarawa, Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Enugu states and the FCT, Abuja.

Expressing appreciation for the gesture, President- General, Ameke Ngwo community in Enugu State, Chief Augustine Agu, said the gesture could not have come at a better time than now when COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the entire world with its attendant hunger, sickness, apprehension and general dislodgement of socio-economic activities.

Similarly, coordinator of the Heart of Love Children’s Homes, Enugu, Rev.Fr. Prada Charles, in a letter to the project manager of RCC, Enugu, expressed gratitude to the construction firm for the donations to the home. The gesture was also appreciated by community leaders of Ogunmakin, Ogun State, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Busari Elete community in Atiba and Ajawa community in Ogo-Oluwa local councils of Oyo State.

Earlier, an officer of the firm, who spoke to The Guardian on condition of anonymous, said the gesture was the company’s little way of alleviating the problems of the indigent citizens in communities where RCC operates.

Picture caption: Project Manager, Mr. Idan Shamir (middle) during the presentation of some of the relief materials to Ogunmakin Community in Ogun state.