Kunle Adelabu
-Pledges to ensure release of funds
The Lagos State House of Assembly has expressed its displeasure at the rate of work being done by the HiTech Construction Limited, on the Ipakodo – Igbogbo – Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Tinubu – Igbe Laara Road.
The members of the Committee on Works, who visited the road on Wednesday, gave expressed their displeasure after they toured the ongoing construction of the road which started in 2017, after several houses were demolished during the administration of Mr Akinwunmi Ambode as Governor of Lagos State.
The House Committee, led by the popular Nollywood actor turned lawmaker, Hon. Desmond Elliot, began the tour of the project from the Igbogbo cemetery where the project started, and after their inspection, they drove in a convoy along the ongoing road project down to Afa axis to see the state of the bridge being constructed.
Also in the Committee’s entourage were Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun, the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency II, Lagos State House of Assembly, Builder Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and Engr. (Dr.) Adekunle Olayinka.
The Chairman House Committee on Works, Hon. Desmond Elliot, expressed the Assembly’s displeasure over the inability of the contractor to deliver up to 60%, despite getting 40% of the contract sum.
He assured that the Assembly will intervene to ensure that more funds are released for the project.
“From the layman point of view, I cannot see 40% of work done. I don’t know the statistics that you used in your calculations. There is still more work to be done.
“We would see what we can do at the Assembly, on how funds can be gotten, because the people here needs this development. It’s taking too long. It’s becoming an embarrassment.
“We would see what we can do legislatively for funds to be made available, so you don’t freak out”, he said.
The HiTech Manager that attended to the visiting lawmakers, said that the state government has only released 41% of the contract sum.
He said that lack of funding has prevented the project from progressing.
Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area, Builder Sesan Daini, commended the Assembly for the inspection which he said would yield positive results.
He also thanked the Governor of the state, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, for his interest in speeding up the project.
“I want to first appreciate the Lagos State House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and the House Committee on Works led by Hon. Desmond Elliot, for taking it as a point of duty to visit this site today”, the council boss said.
“This is a project that started December 2017, and it has caused a lot of issues for the citizens and the party and even for the government. Seeing the Special Adviser to the Governor, Engr. (Dr.) Adekunle Olayinka as part of the entourage equally indicated the readiness and steadfastness of the Governor of Lagos State, to resume and attend to this project as earlier as possible.
“I want to commend them and I want to appreciate the words of assurance from the House Committee Chairman, Hon. Desmond Elliot, that the House will see to what can be done to fast track the work.
“We are waiting for them and we love them. We know that we belong to a party that is a promise keeper and whatsoever we say, we do”, Builder Daini said.
Builder Daini said that the issue that arose on the amount of money released and the expected work, would be amicably resolved between the government and the contractor.
Whole appealing to the residents to continue to show understanding, Daini assured them that the visit of the Assembly with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, will yield good results.
“The contractor said 41%, while the House said that based on the Lagos State standard, once 41% payment is made, they expected 60% job on ground and as we can see, the job is ongoing. Even if the contractor has not met 60%, I want to believe that he is working above the 41%”, he said.
“He explained something that is realistic and as somebody from that industry too, for us to have this stable ground, a lot of work must have been done that might not be able to be measured by people seeing it. This used to be a swampy area which we cannot stand upon and a lot of job must have been done under for it to be stable.
“Between the contractor and the government, the issue will be reconciled but what the citizens are interested in is getting the job done and for us to drive peacefully, easily and smoothly on the road.
“My message for the residents and citizens of Igbogbo, especially the routers of this road, I want to appeal to them, and it is understandable that they have tried and they showed serious understanding with the government. I just want to appeal to them that there will be improvement with this visitation. There would be good response and as earlier promised, there would be better job on the road”, he said.
Comrade Isaac Faniyi, Chairman, CDC Zone 10, speaking with our reporter, said that the contractor’s work is too slow, stating that the state of road has continued to cause hardship for the residents.
“Today is a good day for us in Igbe. At least, we have seen some members of the Assembly Committee here to survey and evaluate the work done so far by HiTech”, he said.
“As a community leader who want to express his feelings, the rate at which work is being done here is drastically low and we are not impressed. This place cut us off from Igbogbo. Our children were unable to go to school, businesses paralysed and residents cannot enjoy the environment any longer.
“We are facing tremendous pains. In fact, it has been a nightmare for us. We have been appealing to our people and residents because we are peace loving people”.
The community leader charged the government and other stakeholders to ensure that the project is quickly completed.
“We want the rate at which the work is being done to be faster this time around. We can no longer afford to experience what we have been experiencing in the coming rainy season.
“Our appeal to the government, its agencies, political leaders and the council chairman, is to please, ensure that the work should be speed up so that the next rainy season will not meet us in this terrible situation again”.
Comrade Kazeem Ogunmuyiwa, President, Igbogbo Youth Coaliition (IYC), while stating that the road has caused the residents and road users so much pains, said that the visitation will yield a positive reaction as soon as possible.
He urged the House Committee to liaise with the executive arm and ensure that adequate funding is released to the contractor for the work to progress.
