Scores of residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday sacked Chinese construction workers handling the Ibadan-Lagos light rail project.
The protesters accused the construction workers of damaging utility and the management of insensitivity to the people’s plight.
The contract for the Lagos-Ibadan light rail gauge was awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) by the Federal Government.
The three-year contract is expected to be completed in December this year.
There were sounds of gunshots reportedly fired by soldiers and mobile policemen guarding the expatriates.
But these did not deter the protesters from charging towards the direction of the gun-wielding security agents.
The aggrieved residents, who were from six communities in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State and Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, besieged the site of the construction company as early as 7.30 a.m, calling on the Federal Government to intervene in the face-off between them and the Chinese company.
They urged President Muhammadu Buhari to save them from the inhuman operations of the Chinese company by calling its management to order.
Some of the affected communities include Aba-Oke, Ago Tente, Eleso, Bakatari, Ilupeju and Orile-Ilugun.
The construction site at Eleso community, on Ibadan-Abeokuta Expressway, had soldiers and mobile policemen stationed at its main gate.
The angry residents were protesting alleged damage of a 33KVA electricity pole and subsequent disconnection of electricity supply to the affected communities for over three weeks.
Addressing reporters, the Baale of Eleso community, Chief Isiaka Abe, described the attitude of the Chinese workers as inhuman and barbaric.
He recalled the efforts the communities made to contact the management of the Chinese firm, but wondered how they proved difficult and unfriendly.
The community leader, who demanded immediate repair of the damaged electric pole, warned against continued use of dynamite to blast rock in thickly populated areas.
He said: “We want them to come down and see for themselves the buildings they damaged. Let them visit poultry farm owners and see the loss of livestock running into several millions of naira. We want the government to caution them and help them see the need for peaceful relations with their host communities. Otherwise, they will not be allowed to continue to torment the communities. We shall not allow that. That is why we are here today.”
The protesters urged the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Ameachi, to call the management of the Chinese construction company to order or be prepared to face the wrath of the communities.
According to the aggrieved residents, the Chinese construction workers have caused serious damage to their homes, destroyed their farms and killed their livestock through their operations.
“More annoying is their insensitive posture and refusal to take responsibility for their failings.
They have continued to use dynamite to blast stones, an action which has caused not only panic but also damaged many buildings and caused the death of hundreds of livestock in the host communities,” a resident, Mr Festus Adewale, told The Nation.
