Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has called on Nigerians to take collective responsibility for public infrastructure and safeguard facilities in their communities.
The minister made the appeal in Lagos during the parade of three suspected vandals arrested through a newly deployed closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring system on the Third Mainland Bridge.
Officials said the suspects were caught in real time while attempting to pry open 156 cat-eye reflective lights installed to improve road safety and aesthetics on the bridge. The CCTV monitoring team alerted security operatives, leading to their arrest.
The suspects, who identified themselves as scavengers locally referred to as “Bola” were unable to give clear explanations when questioned by authorities.
Speaking at the event, Mr Umahi commended the police for what he described as their diligence, but expressed concern over what he called the indifferent attitude of some Nigerians towards public assets.
The minister also condemned what he termed widespread indiscipline on a temporarily opened section of the coastal highway, noting that unsafe behaviour had resulted in the death of a construction worker on the route.
Mr Umahi directed the state controller of works to ensure that the suspects are prosecuted, warning that enhanced surveillance described as an “eagle eye” on the Third Mainland Bridge would continue to deter and detect criminal activity.
He added that the government would not tolerate acts of vandalism that undermine public safety and increase the cost of maintaining national infrastructure.
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