Lawmaker Leads Protest To Lagos Assembly

EROMOSELE EBHOMELE

The representative of Apapa Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, western Nigeria, Olumuyiwa Jimoh, led some of his constituents to the House on Thursday in protest against the alleged termination of a contract within the community.

The protesters from Badia, a slum community within the state, complained that out of all the projects for execution within the community, only the school project was almost completed.

They listed seven road projects that they claimed were either stopped halfway or totally abandoned.

The roads include Giwa/Ireti Owoseni streets, Akorede/Ogunle, Fadaini/Obale, Ajowa, Adetola 1 in Oke Oja, Adetola 2 in Abete and Ojora streets.

In a petition, signed by 24 elders of the area and forwarded to the Governor of the state, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the protesters said Fadaini/Obale road is the only access road that leads to Badia community saying that its current stage was lamentable.

“Ojora street is the worst road, the houses demolished and the street turned into refuse dump area,” they said adding that houses within the area have now been submerged and miscreants have taken over the area.

They also complained that the canal that served them had stopped working since 2011 and that the effect of this is that houses are now easily submerged.

They said the contractor, Seg.Mahsen Co. Nigeria Ltd, claimed that the parastatal of government, the Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Project, LMDGP, in charge of the project was owing it.

They appealed to the governor to release the fund needed for the completion of the projects.

Jimoh also said when contacted, the LMDGP claimed it was not owing the contractor.

He urged his colleagues to help resolve the issues for which they protested.

While addressing the protesters, Segun Olulade, who represented the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said the House would address the challenge without delay.