The Centre for Anti-Corruption
and Open Leadership, CACOL, on Friday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to
withdraw the Ministerial nominee of Babatunde Fashola.
CACOL said Fashola, who was the
immediate past Minister of Work, Housing and Power, had failed to ensure good
federal roads within Lagos State and Ogun axis.
In a statement addressed to the
President, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran also insisted that
Fashola failed in Power and Housing sectors while he was a Minister, hence
should not be reappointed.
The letter reads: “We wish to draw your attention to some vital issues concerning
distinguish men and women, that you have assembled to be part of your cabinet
with a view of partnering with you, towards realizing your plan for promoting
good governance and accountability.
“We believe that competence;
integrity, track record and diligence will no doubt determine the realization
of your goals, to birth a new Nigeria in accordance with your avowed commitment
towards a socio-political environment in Nigeria, and a rejuvenated,
economically virile, peaceful and united country in line with the dreams of our
founding forebears.
“Against this background, the Centre
for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) hereby urge your Excellency to
withdraw the nomination of Mr Raji Fashola whose name, unfortunately, featured
prominently amongst those to be reappointed as a Minister of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
“Sequel to the letter sent to you
on 9th of April 2019, where we demanded that Mr Fashola should not be
reappointed based on the fact that he has failed in carrying out his duty in
the three portfolios in terms of Work, Housing and Power.
“Suffice it to outline our
in-depth analysis on the key portfolios of the outgoing Minister as follows: –
“Deplorable conditions of federal
roads within Lagos state and Ogun axis
“In Lagos, deplorable federal
roads include the entire stretch of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos-Badagry
Expressway, some sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway yet to be touched by
the ongoing reconstruction of the dual carriageway and where work has been
ongoing, the quality of work has not been impressive
“Within the city, some of the
affected roads are the Ijora Causeway and Flyover; Funsho Williams Avenue,
Alaka, Custain Roundabout to Eko Bridge ramp and Costain to Iganmu bridge.
“Also affected are Carter bridge
roundabout to LAWMA Junction inwards Eko Bridge, Herbert Macaulay Way from
Jibowu Junction to Adekunle Junction, Outer Marina to Ahmadu Bello Way from
Apongbon bridge to Bonny Camp, Falomo roundabout through Kingsway Road to
Osborne Road, Apapa Road to Western Avenue, between Iganmu bridge ramp and
Western Avenue bridge ramp among others
“Bad portions on the
Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway such as Sango-Ota, Joju, Owode, Ijako, Iyana-Ilogbo
and Pakoto have not only become death traps for motorists, but they have made
commuters plying the road prone to armed robbery attacks
“Many spots on Lagos-Abeokuta
Expressway are in a deplorable state, which of course have made things very
difficult for the commuters and motorists. These spots are the Toll Gate area,
the Sango Market area, Under Bridge, Joju junction, Oando Petrol Station
junction, Owode-Ijako and Iyana Ilogbo, along Lagos-Abeokuta road.
Specifically, on Sango-Idiroko axis, you have bad portions at Iyana Ota, Oju
Ore, Fowobi Junction, General Hospital, Ota Junction as well as Ota High Court,
Iyana Iyesi and the Bells area
“The deplorable state of the
iconic Third Mainland Bridge has left many motorists dumbfounded as they
continue to lament the fragility of this all-important, connecting bridge. Not
only that some portions of the bridge evokes occasional tremor and instability,
even on occasions that repairs are done, the quality of work usually leaves
much to be desired. The dream of a Fourth Mainland Bridge remains what it is: a
dream, as no tangible dateline for its commencement is in sight many years
after its official launching. This would have no doubt, ease much of the
congestion in movement of people and goods from Lagos hinterland to the
surrounding cities
“Apart from the Lagos-Abeokuta
and Sango-Idiroko express roads begging for urgent intervention, other federal
roads in the state-required major intervention such as Ikorodu-Shagamu road,
Shagamu-Ijebu Ode road, Ijebu Ode-Ore are equally in terrible conditions and
require urgent attention.
In the area of power, CACOL said
Fashola propagated more propaganda during his first term as Minister.
“Power Holding (Electricity
supply) and Nigerians’ Experience
“The experience has been that of
continuous epileptic power supply even as the power generation availability
hovers around 3, 500 to 4, 500 megawatts with tens of billions of US Dollars
expended as shortfalls to Electricity Generation Companies (GENCOS)
“Almost four (4) years in the
saddle, the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing has demonstrated
more of rhetoric and propaganda in protecting electricity consumers from the
shylock electricity distributive companies (DISCOS) as more of darkness is
supplied as bogus billing system (estimated billings) is enforced with people
being hamstrung to pay for power they never enjoyed. The situation remains
evenly pathetic, throughout the federation metering of homes and offices remain
a pipe dream with different stories of how the exploited Nigerian power
utilizing individuals and corporate organizations lick their wound daily, with
unimaginable consequences on the entire economy and social activities
“Even with the claim of the power
Ministry under Babatunde Fashola that power generation has increased from 4,000
(Four thousand) Megawatts to 7,000 (Seven Thousand Megawatts, Transmission from
5,000 (Five Thousand) Megawatts to 7,000 (Seven Thousand) Megawatts and
Distribution from 2,690 (Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety) Megawatts to
5,222 (Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty-two) Megawatts, nothing is on
ground to justify this claim as diverse protests rock the nation by frustrated
and agonized members of the public who suffer these defects in power supply
“As it is characteristic of
Babatunde Fashola’s style of leadership, when confronted with indifference and
complacency on deployment of huge quantum of resources on electricity with
defaulting companies not brought to book by Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP) and challenged through the Freedom of
Information (FOI) Acts, all that could be extracted was the role of an Abuja
based company named POW Technologies Ltd that got paid for 19 (Nineteen) items
since 2014 but has remained in default of 6 (six) items while palpable failure
of many other procurements and contracts remain sketchy till date.”
Highlighting Fashola’s failure in
the area of Housing Policy and Result, CACOL added: “Honourable Babatunde Raji
Fashola (SAN) while commenting on the housing sector hinted that the pilot
National Housing Programme which to him is second in the history of the nation
has led to a nationwide housing construction currently at various stages of
completion in 34 States of the federation, where landed properties were
provided. He also insisted that construction works at these project sites are
an ecosystem of human enterprise where artisans, vendors, suppliers and
craftsmen are direct beneficiaries as well as contributors to nation-building.
“The Works and Housing Boss
opined that the Ministry is also tackling the backlog of issuance of consent
and Certificates of Occupancy on Federal Government lands, explaining that a
total of 1, 216 applications for Consent to Transfer Interest inland and 1, 300
Certificates of Occupancy were approved and signed.
“However, unlike what was clearly
visible under Lateef Jakande’s administration as Minister of Works under General
(rtd) Abacha’s regime, most Nigerians continue to lament lack of adequate and
affordable Housing scheme under this regime.
“CACOL had written to advice
against the appointment of same Babatunde Raji Fashola in concordance with our
objective appraisal of his performance whilst he held sway as governor of Lagos
state. Today, we have been sufficiently vindicated as his inability to deliver
the goods stare us all in the face. It is in view of this noted incompetence
that we hereby, express our dissatisfaction of his performance in all those
three (3) vital portfolios and call on your leadership to not only relieve him
of any future responsibilities, but to probe his office on all supposed
contracts given out under him with a view to bring him and others who may be
culpable of siphoning and diverting humongous sums of money for work not done.
“Please, accept our esteemed
regards as we believe you would view this intervention as our little
contribution towards assisting in the greater success of this government,
especially during your last lap in office.”
The Senate had on Wednesday
commenced the screening of the Ministerial list Buhari sent to them for
confirmation among whom was Fashola.
Other nominees include: Chris
Ngige, Hadi Sirika, Rotimi Amaechi, Adamu Adamu, Mohammed Adamu, and Lai
Mohammed.
Others in the list are Uche Ogah,
Emeka Nwajuiba, Sadiya Farouk, Musa Bello, Godswill Akpabio, Sharon Ikeazor,
Ogbonnaya Onu, Akpa Udo, and Adebayo (Ekiti).
Also, Timipre Sylva, Adamu Adamu,
Shewuye (Borno), Isa Pantami, Gbemi Saraki, Ramatu Tijani, Clement Abam were
also declared as part of the nominees.
Paullen Tallen, Abubakar Aliyu,
Sale Mamman, Abubakar Malami, Muhammed Mamood, Rauf Aregbesola, Mustapha Buba
Jedi Agba, Olamilekan Adegbite, and Mohammed Dangyadi.
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