The Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Special Duties, Inter-governmental Relations and Central Business District has directed the Director of Fire And Rescue Services, Mrs. Margret Adeseye, to appear before it over the agency’s poor projects execution.
The Committee also invited the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Relations in respect of the construction of the access road to the Third Relief Camp at Idera, Ibeju Lekki, where the Lawmakers directed the immediate stoppage of the project till further notice.
The same invitation was extended to the Central Business District (CBD) as regards the beautification and the construction of water fountain, opposite Flag House, Marina at Onikan area of the State.
The invitation followed an oversight function carried out by the House Committee at the weekend.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. (Dr) Rauf Olawale Age-Sulaiman, stated that the tour is a constitutional mandate of the parliament which major function is to embark on oversights in order to ensure maximum, effective and judicious utilisation of public funds.
The Committee visited the Fire and Rescue Stations located in Agege, Ikeja, Ilupeju, Ajeromi- Ifelodun, Sari-Iganmu, Ebute Elefun, Oniru, Ejigbo, Badagry, Ojo, Ijegun-Egba.
During the course of the oversight, the Committee also inspected the construction of the Fire and Rescue Station projects embarked upon by the Ministry at Oworonshoki, Ijede LCDA as well as the construction of boreholes at Epe.
Hon. Age-Sulaiman expressed dissatisfaction with the boreholes constructed in the said stations, which he said are not in good condition and as such, could not meet the required standard.
He further disclosed that the committee found out that there was no power supply in most of the stations. According to him, there is a lack of maintenance of fire tankers and furniture.
Added to this is the challenge of manpower development and lack of necessary equipment in the various control rooms and virtually in all the stations.
It was also observed that projects that were meant to have been completed as far back as 2021 and 2022 are still ongoing with various variation requests.
The exercise which was at the instance of the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, started on Thursday, 19th September and ended on Friday, 27th September, 2024.
Members of the Committee who took part in the oversight include Hon.Musibau Lawal, Hon.Jubril Abdulkareem, Hon.Tijani Suraju and Hon Samuel Apata.
# PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE
