The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and relevant agencies to address the illegal activities of scavengers and the growing menace of manhole theft across the state.
This was highlighted during a plenary session on Tuesday, following a motion moved by Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa II).
Yishawu commended the government’s efforts in providing critical infrastructure, such as roads with underground ducts, manhole covers, bridges with safety rails, and functional drainage systems.
He said: “These projects aim to improve residents’ quality of life by enhancing road safety, reducing traffic congestion, and mitigating flooding”.
These projects, he noted, aim to improve residents’ quality of life by enhancing road safety, reducing traffic congestion, and mitigating flooding.
However, the lawmaker expressed concerns over the increasing vandalism and theft of public infrastructure, including manhole covers, pedestrian bridge railings, and streetlight cables.
He warned that such activities could lead to severe consequences, including road accidents, drainage blockages, and setbacks in the state’s infrastructural development.
“If this trend is not addressed promptly, the safety of residents and the government’s developmental efforts will be compromised”, Yishawu stated.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda emphasised the need for vigilance in protecting public infrastructure.
She urged Lagosians to act as whistleblowers and called on the government to sensitise the public on waste separation and reporting suspicious activities.
Contributing to the discussion, Hon. Desmond Elliot decried the prevalence of manhole theft in Surulere, attributing it to scavengers roaming unchecked.
He called for a complete ban on scavenging activities in the state.
Similarly, Hon. Kehinde Joseph cited incidents in Alimosho, including the tragic loss of a House of Representatives member’s son due to open manholes.
He stressed the importance of enforcing existing laws to curb such occurrences.
Hon. Bonu Solomon recommended activating youth-focused initiatives to engage idle youths, while Hon. Aro Moshood urged residents to take responsibility for protecting public infrastructure.
The Assembly issued a series of directives to the state government, including the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources to enforce the Environmental Management Protection Law, 2017, by applying sanctions against scavengers and unauthorised waste activities.
It directed that stolen manhole covers be replaced with materials like glass-reinforced plastic, which have minimal resale value, regulate the collection of scrap metal and sanction unlicensed dealers.
The lawmakers also called on the Ministry of Information and Strategy to launch awareness campaigns on the dangers of manhole theft, encourage public vigilance and develop a whistleblower system to report and address manhole theft and arrest and prosecute individuals involved in the theft and vandalism of public infrastructure.
