The failure of the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu led administration in Lagos State Government to fulfill his electoral promises on Water Transportation to Lagosians has seen the hope of some residents in the affected areas gradually waning off.
During the electioneering campaign that ushered in Governor Sanwo Olu for his Second Term in Office, there were several pledges to residents of areas with waterways channels in Lagos including Mende environs. Governor Sanwo-Olu promised to provide water transportation facilities in the areas to enhance accessibility to other parts of the State. Unfortunately, this promises are yet come to fruition as most of the projects already awarded are being handled shoddily; raising doubts about the commitment of the government to fulfilling the promise. The lackadaisical approach to the projects has further fueled concern about continued neglect of the residents of these areas whose daily activities would be greatly enhanced by water transportation as well as improved channelisation to control perennial flooding.
In some of these areas where channelisation projects have been commenced, the pace of work has either been unexplainably slow or activities neglected. With the coming of rains, there is apprehensive that poor implementation of channelisation in Mende and its environ could further aggravate the sufferings of residents.
Babalola Daramola, a resident of Mende expressed fears failure to complete the channelisation projects could worsen environmental problems. Despite several promises made by the Governor when he came to canvass for votes prior to the 2023 Governorship Election, environmental hazards as a result of poor handling of channelisation and abandonment of drainage projects has become enormous challenges. A resident of Mende who spoke to us regretted that "it is disheartening that our government usually forget that the masses need basic amenities. We haven’t asked for much and Governor Sanwo Olu promised to dredge the waterways in our area and make water transportation accessible and affordable.
Mrs. Ramota Raheem, another Mende said that channelisation projects have become epileptic and left much to be desired. According to her, “I don’t think the government is ready to make us enjoy the dividend of democracy as we have been praying for access to water transportation which Mr. Governor promised us during the campaigns for his second term in office.
Further investigations however revealed that in some areas, there are contractors on site working, but their jobs have not properly handled. There is the for supervision from the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructures. According to her, slow pace of work on ongoing projects has become worrisome to residents; prompting renewed calls on Governor Sanwo-Olu to fulfill its promises.
As the residents in affected areas are gradually losing faith over failure to fulfill promises, a community leader in Mende who pleaded anonymity said it is necessary for officials of the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructures to regularly visit the sites of ongoing dredging and channelisation works to assess the situation. He decried a situation where dredgers were moved to site since the last quarter of 2023 without any tangible work being carried out on by the contractors. He called on the commissioner in charge as well as the relevant agencies to address the shortcomings in the implementation of channelisation projects without further delay. He further called on civil society platforms advocating for good governance to lend voices to their agitation for prioritisation of channelisation projects to improve water transportation system in Lagos State.
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