Over 25,000 Public Assets Vandalized in the FCT - Minister

4h4yNYj6Recent findings show that 25,462 assets of various types have been vandalized in the FCT.  The FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, who made the revelation at a Town Hall Meeting organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture which centred on the Vandalization of Public Infrastructure gave the following break-down:  400 foul water manhole covers, 582 storm water covers and 23,210 gully pot covers.  Others include 467 Water Board inspection chamber covers, 47 fire hydrant covers and 756 telecom duct covers.

       The Minister also stated that some of the blackout on the streets “occur simply because somebody decides to dig out the cables”. He therefore called on security agencies not to see the vandalization of public assets as a minor crime but rather to approach it with the seriousness which it deserves as it constitutes threat to lives. Already, arrangements are in top gear to replace the stolen items with materials that have no second hand value such as plastic in order to discourage vandals from stealing them.  The FCT Minister gave a staggering figure of N2.6billion as being required to replace the stolen or vandalized assets in the territory.

       It will be recalled that due to the deep concern by the Honourable Minster on the high level of vandalization/theft of Manhole and Gully Pot Covers in the Federal Capital City, a Task Force consisting of selected secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs), the Police as well as NSCDC was constituted to carry out a thorough audit; identify the affected areas, ascertain the extent of the Vandalization/theft, estimate the cost of restoration or replacement and recommend appropriate measures to arrest this ugly situation.  The Task Force has since submitted its report which is being studied by the FCT Administration for possible implementation.