Lagos Warns Against Vandalising Rural Projects

The Lagos State Government has warned vandals against destroying projects sited in rural communities across the state, as culprits will be adequately punished.

Commissioner for Rural Development, Prince Lanre Balogun, gave this warning yesterday in Epe, Lagos, Nigeria at the handing over of projects to rural communities in the area.

The commissioner said Neighbourhood Watch officers had been drafted to areas where these projects were located to keep an eye on them and ensure that they were not vandalised by unscrupulous people.

He said the people had been enlightened to be their neighbour’s keepers and watch over the property belonging to the community.

The commissioner added that Neighbourhood Watch officers had been mandated to report any suspicious movement within the community to the police.

Balogun expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done on the projects, stressing that government was bent on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.

The state government also threatened to withhold payment to contractors in the rural areas whose performance fall short of government’s expectation.

A community hall handed over at Eredo in Epe was found to have a leaking roof and the commissioner expressed displeasure with the work of the contractor. He threatened not to pay the balance owed the contractor until the roof is repaired.

He said the same measure will apply to other contractors who perform shoddy jobs.

Earlier at the handing over of the community hall, Chairman, Eredo Community Development Association (CDA), Alhaji Sikiru Shanu intimated the commissioner on the shortcomings of the contractor that handled the project, noting that the roof of the building was leaking in many places even after several repairs.

“The tiling and the floor leaves much to be desired while some of the doors are already getting bad,” he said.

A total of twelve projects, including rural electrification, garri processing plant, a world class jetty and neighbourhood watch posts were handed over to communities in the area.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mr. Ajao Jimoh, who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola, noted that the projects were all part of the dividends of democracy and a fulfillment of the electioneering promises of the governor to Lagosians.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga