Vandalism: Time to take action

Recently, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State said he would be sending a bill to the State House of Assembly to enact a law that will punish anyone caught vandalising public utilities. The governor’s warning came due to the activities of vandals, who stole the poles and cables of the newly installed street lights on […]

Recently, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State said he would be sending a bill to the State House of Assembly to enact a law that will punish anyone caught vandalising public utilities.

The governor’s warning came due to the activities of vandals, who stole the poles and cables of the newly installed street lights on the just constructed Abeokuta-Siun-Sagamu road.

The question one asks is why would a sane or seemly sane man or woman deliberately destroy public or private property?

Over time, we have seen and heard of how people vandalised with impunity public utilities put in place by the government with public funds. It baffles one how people destroy facilities that are meant to make life enjoyable, with reckless abandon. These days, they carry out their nefarious acts even in broad daylight.

The level of damage perpetuated by vandals on critical national assets is enough to make one weep.

It is pathetic that people would descend on electric cables that are meant to provide Nigerians with electricity and even to the point of making away with the poles, particularly the ones made with iron. Even high tension cables are not spared. In the days of NITEL, telephone cables were also vandalised.

One worrying aspect of the vandalism issue is the one that has to do with the rail tracks. It was reported some time ago that nuts used in connecting bolts on the new standard gauge Lagos-Ibadan- Kano rail tracks have been unscrewed and carted away by vandals. This action not only amounts to economic sabotage but also poses a great danger to the passengers, wagon drivers and the wagons, as accidents arising from this act could be very fatal.

In the nation’s major cities and towns, streets and traffic lights meant to illuminate the streets at night and ensure effective traffic management, have been destroyed. Hardly any public utility, including buildings are spared from vandals because Nigerians see these facilities as government properties and as such “no man’s property”.

No doubt, vandalism sabotages the economy of any nation, it slows down development and this has a major negative effect on the quality of life of the people just as it cost a fortune to replace or repair.

Like Governor Abiodun, it is time government at the federal, states and even the local government take steps to address this menace as it is capable of destroying the economy of the nation.

I totally support the efforts of the governor to rid the state of these unscrupulous elements in the society and I implore him to make good his promise by dealing with them in the language they understand through lawful actions.

 

Elijah Udofia, Laderin, Abeokuta.