Lagos Assembly seeks tougher action against vandals

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday called for urgent and tougher measures to curb the rising vandalism of public infrastructure across the state.

This followed a video of suspected vandals removing iron rods, steel reinforcements, and cables from the Festac Town-Alakija Link Bridge.

The lawmakers’ intervention came after 30 suspected vandals were sentenced to two months’ imprisonment each for vandalising bridges across Lagos.

The convicts had pleaded guilty before a Mobile Magistrate Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi to charges involving the removal of bridge-supporting iron rods.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the affected infrastructure included the Alakija-Festac Link Bridge, Trade Fair, Orile, and Abule Ado bridges.

The sentencing came amid renewed concern over the safety implications of scavengers extracting structural materials from public infrastructure.

The lawmakers expressed concern that such activities threatened public safety and undermined government investments in critical infrastructure.

They stressed the need for swift and decisive action to prevent further damage and protect motorists and residents using the facilities daily.

Ruling on the matter, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa cautioned against implementing restrictions that could unfairly affect legitimate operators, including barrow pushers. 

He said enforcement measures must distinguish legitimate economic activities from criminal operations targeting public infrastructure.

Obasa also noted that prosecution and incarceration could be hindered by congestion in correctional facilities, requiring broader enforcement and punishment strategies.

“The challenge can be addressed through the state government’s construction of additional correctional centres,” he said.

The Speaker called for improved standards and increased capacity within the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps to strengthen infrastructure protection. 

He said the corps should play a more effective role in identifying, preventing and reporting vandalism across the state.

“I advocated sustained legislative oversight and stronger implementation of existing laws aimed at protecting public infrastructure and deterring criminal activities,” he said.

The Majority Leader, Moshood Aro, who moved the motion, urged security agencies to intensify surveillance around bridges, highways, and other strategic public assets.

He specifically called on the Police, Rapid Response Squad, and Kick Against Indiscipline to strengthen monitoring operations.

Aro advocated intelligence-led operations to identify and prosecute vandals and individuals involved in purchasing and selling stolen structural materials.

“I urge residents to promptly report suspicious activities to relevant authorities,” he said.

NAN also reports that the latest arrests and convictions have heightened calls for stronger enforcement against the vandalisation of bridges and other critical infrastructure.

The Assembly reiterated its commitment to working with the executive to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and ensure effective implementation of existing laws.

The lawmakers stressed that coordinated efforts involving government agencies, security formations and residents remained essential to protecting public assets.

They warned that unchecked vandalism could undermine development gains, threaten road users, and impose additional costs on government to repair damaged infrastructure.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖