Reps task IGP on kidnapped Lagos students

…Probe road, power, other projects

From Ndubuisi Orji,  Abuja

House of Representatives, yesterday, gave the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Idris Abraham a marching order to rescue the six students kidnapped in a secondary school in Epe, Lagos State last week.
The lower chamber said the students, Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf, of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, who were abducted by gunmen should be rescued as soon as possible.
It also mandated its committees on Basic Education and Services, Police Affairs and Navy to investigate the spate of insecurity in the riverine areas, waterways and schools in Lagos State.
The committees are expected to come up with recommendations on how to stem the spate of militancy and kidnapping as well as visit the state to commiserate with the government over the kidnap of the students.
This is sequel to a motion moved by Tasir Olawale Raji in which he drew attention to the plight of residents of Ishawo in Ikorodu, Igbodu in Epe, Ebute Lekki in Ibeju Lekki and Ise in Epe who have been under siege by gunmen.
He recalled that the Lagos State Model College,  Igbonla, Epe was earlier attacked by kidnappers on October 6, last year,  duringt which four students were kidnapped.
Raji stated that apart from the students, other residents of the riverine communities have also been kidnapped. He said the Baale of Ebute Lekki, Alhaji Salina Kareem, who was abducted on May 19, was yet to be released.
“If this spate of kidnapping is not arrested, it may pose a threat to the ongoing investment worth billions of dollars in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, which include the first indigenous private refinery in Nigeria and the Lekki Deep Sea Port, among others,” he said.
Also,  the House directed its Committees on Finance and National Planning and Economic Development to investigate ongoing and abandoned critical Federal Government projects in the road, power, education and transportation sectors
The probe would also extend to projects in the education, agricultural, security, science and technology and environment sectors.
The committees are to ascertain the number and locations of ongoing or abandoned Federal Government capital projects across the six geo-political zones, the total sum committed to the projects, amount so far paid and the outstanding payment.
They are to report back to the House within eight weeks for further legislative action.
Babangida Ibrahim, in a motion tagged: “Need to determine the status of ongoing/abandoned Federal Government projects” observed that there was infrastructure deficit in the country characterized by dilapidated road network, epileptic power supply, moribund railway system, dilapidated structures in the education, health sectors among others.
He expressed regret that implementation of capital budgets since 2000 has never reached 50 per cent.

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