The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has described the recent achievements ascribed to the Lagos State government in a recent newspaper advertorial as “highly deceptive and misleading”.
In a press statement issued by it executive chairman, Debo Adeniran, in Lagos, the transparency advocacy group said that the government was merely running a deceptive government by propaganda all in a bid to show off.
It alleged that Lagos State government only embarks on projects in the media, adding that inspection of advertised projects usually shows that they are non-existent.
It expressed dismay that many primary and secondary schools in the state have dilapidated structures, noting that the well decorated school structures seen along major roads were merely disguised to conceal the decay inside.
The group criticised the government for not providing adequate basic facilities, equipment as well as materials required to aid teaching and learning in spite of the enormous funds that are usually appropriated for the maintenance and supply of materials to all the schools in the state’s annual budget.
It said that many roads in the state are either bumpy or filled with potholes, adding that many drainage channels are too small to accommodate the anticipated flood water.
“Everywhere in Lagos, without exception is affected. But worse affected are some areas in the outskirts like Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe axis and within the mainland, Alimosho especially Aboru, Ikotun, Ayobo, Ipaja axis. These areas are like jungles within the metropolis”, it said.
Admitting that the government cannot possibly solve all the challenges the state faces, CACOL noted that it is expected of the government to, at least, put in more efforts to show its concern for the well-being of its people with highest sense of responsibility and responsiveness.
It lamented that when government eventually executes some developmental projects, it is always at the expense of the masses who ought to be beneficiaries, citing example of the construction of a portion of the Lekki-Ajah roads which attracted several tollgate after completion.
“This means that those who have the misfortune of living in those areas have to pay through their noses when they move from their homes to other parts of their state. The newly constructed N29 bn Cable Bridge is not exempted as the beneficiaries are being exploited and forced to pay toll on the bridge that was said to have been constructed from the taxpayers’ money. This is also applicable to markets and housing estates, even tertiary education, which the government takes beyond the reach of the masses”, it said.
CACOL also accused the Lagos State government of confiscating landed property from their lawful owners and reselling them to associates and cronies of state officials.
“To be sure, Tejuosho, Oyingbo markets and a few others got burnt mysteriously only to be reconstructed and their rent taken beyond the reach of the original owners. These are ordinary services expected to be rendered at no extra cost, to the people,” it stated.
The group also complained about the huge debt that the state government has piled up over the years, saying that there is little or nothing to show for all the money borrowed.
It said investigation has shown that Lagos State owes 33.86 per cent of the country’s total external debts..
“Statistics released by the Debt Management Office in Abuja as at June 30, 2014, as quoted in The Punch Newspapers, dated November 25, page 2, showed that out of the total external debt of $3.01bn, Lagos State owed $1.02bn, leaving the remaining 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory with $1.99bn”, it said.
The Coalition stressed that the achievement of the Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola, has been over hyped, adding that judging by the performance of the government, it has betrayed the allegiance and trust reposed in it by citizens.
It urged the government to submit itself to the inquiry of the anti-graft agencies in the country threatening that it would be compelled to do so as soon as it tenure expires.