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A group, Coalition of Concerned Lagosians, has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to investigate the alleged violation of procurement process for the award of contract for the dredging of the Mende.
In a statement signed by the group’s president, Nurudeen Olawale and secretary, Korede Animashaun, they called on the governor to conduct a thorough forensic audit into the award of the contract.
The statement read: “While we have consistently supported and praised the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu on it achievements in terms of infrastructural development on land and rail infrastructure in Lagos State, as concerned stakeholders, we would not close our eyes to the allegations of violations of procurement procedures in the award of channelisation contracts happening in the Ministry of Water Front in the state.
“We are by this notice calling on the governor to conduct a thorough and forensic audit into the award of the contract for the channelisation of the Mende to the lagoon water front recently awarded by the state government at the sum of N5 billion and is to cover a total area of 7km long by 40 meters wide and four meters deep for a duration of one year.
“Despite the fact that N2.5b mobilisation has been paid, nothing concrete is non ground, apart from the dredger for the project dumped on site and has been so stationed in one spot under the bridge for the last six months without any tangible trace of dredging work going on. We presume that with the right information, Governor Sanwo-Olu would not want to be dragged into allegations of violations of procurement procedures considering his unblemished past records.”
“As stakeholders, we are also calling on NIWA to conduct an investigation into the allegation with a view to ensure the protection, integrity and credibility of the organisation as regards its core mandate which also includes protection and expansion of our waterways, while we continue to monitor the development with a view to ensuring that the right thing is done. We would not hesitate to avail the Economic and Financial Crime Commission with the necessary information, if need be, to enable them prosecute whoever is culpable in any allegation of violation of procurement processes as regards the referenced job, including account details of relevant recipients of contract sum. We had also carried out the necessary measurements of the water depth using eco sander to check the depth of the water before commencement of the said work and if they claim they have done a thorough job, we would not hesitate to take the same measurement and publish our findings for the entire world to see. Our prayers therefore is for the governor to ensure that these allegations are thoroughly investigated and if possible, a new team of consultants appointed to supervise the execution of the job and report back to the state within a specified period.”
