ACN warns host communities, hoodlums against extortion

JULY 5, 2013  

National Publicity Secretary, ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The Action Congress of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, on Thursday, condemned the alleged extortion and harassment of government contractors working in various parts of the state by host communities and hoodlums.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the party said the extortion was inimical to the growth and progress of the state.

It said, “We are worried by the persistent reports and complaints of increased extortion and harassment of contractors handling government’s projects such as roads and drains by communities in cahoots with street urchins.

“Communities and area boys involved in this despicable act are warned to desist from it as government is prepared to deal with any impediment to delivering a functional state.”

The statement said if the development was left unchecked, it would derail the lofty vision of Lagos State government.

It lamented the rate at which communities extorted money from government’s contractors, condemning a residents association in Lagos for demanding N500,000 from a government agency.

It said, “An agency of the Lagos State Government in charge of optic fibre technology has reported consistent running battles with communities, area boys, resident associations, estates and even prominent Lagos residents who impede the laying of facilities for improved network, until certain fees are negotiated and paid.

“We have a letter from a Lagos residents’ association to the Telecoms Infrastructure Development Limited, a contractor handling the laying of fiber optic cables for MTN Nigeria. The association  demanded that N500,000 be paid for work permit to lay fiber optic cables in the estate.”

The party claimed that despite endless meetings with host communities, contractors had been forced to pay their way through, thereby increasing the cost of services.

It said the culture of extortion was also replicated in nearly every sector in the state where construction works target the improvement of facilities.

It said the party saw the acts as deliberate effort to sabotage the good work of the current administration.

“Water, road, drainage, telecommunications works have been held up by demands for by communities on contractors to either pay illegal fees or stop work,” it said.