Dredging contracts should be awarded to only competent firms, says transparency group

Transparency Advocacy Initiative, a group, has warned against awarding channelisation contracts to “incompetent” firms in Lagos state.

In a statement signed by the national president of Transparency Advocacy Initiative, the group said upon assumption of office by Babajide Sanwo-Olu as governor of Lagos state, his administration pledged to prioritise the development of road, rail, and water transportation in its infrastructural roadmap.

The group said the government has been delivering on this promise, particularly evident in its advancements in road and rail infrastructure.

“However, with waterways channelisation infrastructure, it seems some people are hell-bent on frustrating the efforts of the Lagos State Government as some contractors are consistently being awarded delicate and complex jobs, one which is allegedly awarded at a cost of N5bn to a contractor who cannot embark on such technical job, hence our call for a thorough investigation by the Lagos State Governor into the award of such dredging contracts to incompetent contractors with obsolete equipment is not fit enough to meet the modern day demand of the job,” the group said.

“This incompetence was first noticed during the tenure of the previous Commissioner of Water Front, but unfortunately the system has continued unabated as civil servants in the Ministry are said to be handed in gloves with some highly placed persons to ensure that job is awarded to incompetent hands at the detriment of the general public, despite the good intentions of the State Governor.“

Speaking on the efforts made in this regard, the organisation said with its commitment to water infrastructural development in Nigeria, it has made various attempts at speaking with the directors and permanent secretary in the said ministry and all efforts have proven abortive, as nobody is ready to speak on the issue for fear of victimisation.

“However, we will continue to engage and liaise with the Lagos State Government to ensure the development of water infrastructure is not only actualised and sustainable, but competence and capacity is ably promoted and maintained throughout the process,” the group said.

“Our visit to these sites of the dredging project tells a sad story of a nation so blessed with so much competence, yet frustrated by nepotistic practices and gross ineptitude. We are not frowning at some people using contracts to empower political associates and supporters, but such companies must be credible, competent, and capable.

“We are by this notice calling on the Lagos State Governor to immediately investigate the award of that job to remedy the damage already done by the lack of competence displayed by the contractors, to not only save the project but also the credibility of the procurement process in the State.”