Lagos decries attacks on govt contractors

The Lagos State Government has expressed concern on increasing rate of attacks on contractors handling government projects across the state by hoodlums, who extort money from them.

Commissioner for Rural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi, said this at the monthly meeting with leaders of Neighbourhood Watch, Community Development Committee and police chiefs among others in Ikeja, a statement said on Sunday.

The commissioner explained that nearly all government contractors handling drainage, road and other projects across the state were being attacked because they were not willing to submit to extortion by touts, who usually compel them to pay specific amount of money.

He said, "The contractors are being asked to pay money and if they do not pay, they will not be allowed to work. This is not good.

"What is the role of Community Development Associations? Are CDAs working with government to prevent such things?

"Go and talk with the people in your areas and engage them so that they will not attack our contractors. These bad boys are terrorising the contractors. It is everywhere, even those handling contracts for the Ministry of Rural Development."

The commissioner pointed out that most contractors usually collect mobilisation funds of 60 per cent. He added that if they were prevented from executing the projects they had been paid to do, the communities should not complain of neglect.

He, however, urged contractors to carry the CDAs along whenever they wanted to execute government projects in their domains to avoid attack by hoodlums.

Ojelabi also urged residents of the state to provide useful information to the police to prevent crime.

The meeting also prayed for the repose of the soul of late President-General of Nigeria Market Men and Women, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji.


Punch