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• Abuja residents cry out over destruction of road, light infrastructure
From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Abuja residents have cried out over vandalism of power assets and road infrastructure, which, in most cases, have left them with darkness, accidents and deaths. Such infrastructure include traffic lights, crash barriers, hand rails, armoured cables and even manholes. The hoodlums also cart away transformers, cables and aluminum poles.
In Abuja, it’s not difficult to notice these stranded criminals and layabouts, who pretend to be handicapped and homeless under the bridge. Some masquerade in daylight as ‘baban bola’. But in the night, they operate with the speed of light and destroy with the skill of high profile professionals.
Many Abuja residents have reported the stealing of their electric wires, armoured cables, aluminum poles as well as other valuable items. The activities of these hoodlums have left them in darkness and they have to contribute on many occasions to fix or replace these infrastructure.
The facilities are often dismembered and carted away. Most of these items are reportedly located in “pantaker” markets ——- a fast-growing metal market in FCT.
Joyce resides in Pyankasa, Abuja, said: “Several times, we are forced to contribute to replace damaged or stolen items. It’s no use waiting for the distribution company to fix or replace it because they will never come.”
Rasheed lives in Apo: “This is the third time we are contributing to replace the cable. Residents are tired of contributing. Some are even threatening to relocate because of this menace.”
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The vandalism of infrastructure has gone in recent years. The replacement and installation of new facilities by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, has given the criminals the opportunity to steal the more
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), whose responsibility it is to protect these critical national assets and infrastructure has so far since January, arrested over 30 members of a gang. Its FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, said: “The arrest is a proof that the FCT Command is not backing down in its resolve to protect critical national assets and infrastructure (CNAI) in FCT as well as chase out vandals and criminal elements from the city. Seven suspects were arrested in January, two in March, four in April, five in May and 10 in June.
“Three suspects were arrested for vandalising crash barriers along Constitution Avenue in the Central Area. During the operation, 12 vandalised crash barriers and eight poles were recovered. In a separate operation at Dakibiyu, Jabi District, the corps recovered a vandalised electricity transformer and arrested three suspects in connection with the crime.
“Similarly, three suspected transformer vandals were arrested in another operation, during which six transformer components that had been vandalised and were being carted away were recovered. The command also apprehended illegal telecommunications cable operators engaged in unlawful cabling activities in the Sunnyvale area of the FCT.v
“Two suspected telecommunications infrastructure vandals were arrested around the Transcorp Bridge while attempting to vandalise public utility facilities. Another two suspects were arrested for vandalising fibre optic cables around Leisure Court, Lugbe, while in April, two suspected iron rod vandals were apprehended in the Central Area.
“The corps apprehended two suspected armoured cable vandals in Utako and three others were arrested in Zone 3 area for the same crime. A 25-year-old male suspect was arrested around Aco Estate, Lugbe , Airport Road , vandalising streetlight input cables. Six lengths of electrical iron and one pole hanger were recovered from a 26-year-old male, caught vandalising an electric pole at Wuse Zone 6.”
