N500,000 for road obstruction, public property defacing
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives is proposing a fine of not less than N1 million for burning of tyres, rubber or any other materials on a tarred road.
It is also proposing a penalty of N500,000 for obstruction of road, without authorisation; any activity that causes water to gather on a tarred road, as well as running iron bars and ‘naked wheels’ on a tarred road.
These are contained in a proposed legislation, entitled: “A bill for an act on restitution of damaged public property, 2023.”
The bill, which was sponsored by Felix Nwaeke, when passed into law, will apply to motor parks, leisure parks, road infrastructure, buildings housing government offices, public school buildings, overhead bridges, hospitals and other government property, across the country.
The proposed legislation, which has passed first reading, also prescribes a penalty of not less than N1 million or three years imprisonment or both for theft of government property, and a fine of not less than N500,000 for “unauthorised defacing of any public property with posters, markers, paint, banners and any other material.”
Also, refusal to repair a damaged public property, after notice has been issued, shall attract a penalty of not less than N500,000.
The bill also seeks to establish a Restitution of Public Property Department (RPPD) in the Federal Ministry of Works, with offices across the country, to police public property.
The department shall, among other functions, keep a register of public property across the country, take note of any person that “causes any form of damage to public property,” as well as ‘arrest any person causing damage to public property.”
Consequently, any person convicted of fighting an official of RPPD shall be liable to a fine not less than N500,000. While the use of public property, “in a manner that denies other citizens the usage of the same,” shall attract a fine not less than N100,000.
According to Section 13(1), the RPPD shall “confiscate and scrap any debris of accident and burnt vehicles, machines, any material found at the scene of any damaged public property and shall confiscate any article relevant to an offence or violation under this bill. Provided that where such property belongs to an individual or corporate body repairing the damaged public property, such individual or corporate body shall be allowed to take possession of the same, only after the repairs have been duly effected.”
Also, part one of the bill states that the primary objective is “to make restitution and repairs of public property, amenities and infrastructure damaged by private persons and corporate bodies to ensure specifically that public property, amenities and infrastructure are preserved and maintained.”
Other objectives include to ensure “cost of governance is reduced by shielding the government from the responsibility of repairs on public property damaged by citizens. Make for sustainable infrastructure,” among others.