LWC decries harassment of staff by Dophin Estate residents

The management of Lagos Water Corporation, LWC, has decried incessant intimidation and harassment of its staff by some residents of Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, led by a former Senator, Sunday Fajinmi, under the guise of being the Chairman of Dolphin Residents Association.

Managing Director, LWC, Engr. Muminu Badmus in a statement on Thursday said this complaint was coming on the heels of series of harassment being meted on the workers of Water Corporation inhibiting them and the contractors from carrying out their official duties.

“Recently, LWC received a report of burst water mains, a team of engineers was dispatched to carry out repairs, but the staff were prevented, also were held hostage by the security on the instruction of the chairman of Residents Association, Senator Olawale Fajinmi, and it took the intervention of top management staff of LWC, before they were released.

“The LWC staff and contractors were at the Estate to sensitize the residents on the installation, use of prepaid meters, and the need to reduce water wastage, but they were equally sent away, with their tools, materials and some pre-paid meters seized, by the same former Senator with the assistance of his security details and hired social miscreants.

“On Friday 17th of November 2017, LWC staff and IBS consultancy were in the Estate to carry out enumeration exercise for the purpose of obtaining accurate data of the customers, but to their greatest surprise, they were arrested, operational vehicles were seized, and all efforts to resolve the issue were flagrantly rebuffed by the Senator,” Muminu said.

According to the LWC boss, “we want to place on record that the present administration of Akinwunmi Ambode is committed to ensuring that every household in the State has access to potable water and LWC has been mandated to carry out this assignment without inhibition. For the avoidance of doubt, the management of LWC will not fold it arms to allow some residents to surreptitiously thwart the efforts of the government in this direction.

“LWC hereby warns the general public, particularly the group in Dolphin Estate and any other person/persons who may have similar motive to desist henceforth or face the wrath of the law as no individual is bigger than the State, as the State has responsibility to protect its citizens within the ambit of the law.”