Oladipupo Awojobi 
Following the abandonment of the dredging project for the channelisation of the Ikorodu-Mende ferry route in Lagos, the residents of the area have called on the contractor handling the project to return to the site.
Speaking with newsmen on Thursday, some concerned residents of the area alleged that dredging equipment had been abandoned at the project site and that engineers were no longer present on site.
Addressing the media on behalf of the residents, a community leader in the area, Mr Adesola Alani, appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to use his good office to ensure early completion of the project.
Alani urged Merited Construction Limited, the company handling the project, to resume work without further delay, adding that the project had been abandoned since December 2023.
The residents had previously pleaded with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to fulfil his electoral promises to provide water transportation facilities and improve channelisation projects in the area.
They expressed anticipation for the Governor to ensure the commencement of work on the waterways and pledged their support once the project began.
Additionally, they assured Governor Sanwo-Olu that they would actively publicise the project once work commences.
It was gathered that the dredger brought to the site appeared not to be capable of handling the job, leading the residents to question the commitment of the government to the project.
“Close observation showed that they are not doing anything at the site, but we are watching and monitoring the situation
“We had queried the competence of the technical director that recommended the contractor for such a sensitive project,” said a resident, Mr Adeola Ajayi, another resident of the area, said in an interview with journalists
They expressed fears that poor implementation of channelisation could increase environmental problems and urged the government to prioritise the project to improve water transportation and prevent further suffering.
The residents of the area also called for regular supervision from the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure to ensure early completion of the project.
Another community leader in the area, Alhaji Taofeek Iyanda, who spoke with journalists, urged civil society platforms to advocate for good governance to support the prioritisation of channelisation projects to enhance the water transportation system in the state.
“We haven’t asked for much. Governor Sanwo-Olu promised to dredge the waterways in our area and make water transportation accessible and affordable. It’s disheartening that the government usually forget that the masses need basic amenities,” he said.
The residents then urged the government to ensure that the project was completed in record time and called on the state government to enforce compliance on the project.
