Adeleke Dorcas Temitope
On June 7, 2024, Lagos Rapid Response Squad apprehended 18-year-old Mubarak Abdullahi for stealing LED road stud lights from the newly renovated Third Mainland Bridge.
These lights, crucial for improving visibility and safety, cost between N7,000 and N15,000 each, and Abdullahi had removed ten.
This arrest follows a series of vandalism incidents, including the arrest of Friday Nwafor for damaging road light indicators on the same bridge.
Despite increased patrols, vandals continue to target critical infrastructure, such as the recent theft of iron reinforcements from a concrete barrier in Ogudu.
These acts undermine significant investments in infrastructure maintenance and repair, which have cost the Federal Government billions of naira.
Experts stress the need for stringent laws, advanced surveillance, and community engagement to protect public assets.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, urged residents to take ownership of public infrastructure, emphasizing that protecting these assets is essential for sustainable development and public safety.