*Rallies Residents
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has expressed concern over the alarming rate of vandalization of public infrastructure in the Federal Capital City (FCC), Abuja.
The concern was raised by Director, FCTA’s Department of Monitoring and Inspection (DMI), Tpl. Obinna Nkwocha, during a routine monitoring exercise of the FCC.
He said the menace is being tackled.
The Director said the Administration is unhappy over the increasing incidents, in which criminals target street lights, water pipelines and electricity cables.
Tpl. Nkwocha disclosed that FCTA, under FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has relentlessly shown commitment to developing and enhancing public assets in the nation’s capital by continually expending public funds on Abuja infrastructure so that residents can enjoy the dividends of good governance, wondering why anyone would rather vandalize such infrastructure.
Describing as “unfortunate” the resort to vandalism, the Director warned the criminals of the dire consequences of their anti-social activities.
Rallying Abuja residents to be vigilant and report cases of vandals in their areas to appropriate security agencies, Tpl. Nkwocha pleaded with the law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of public infrastructure.
According to him, the activities of criminals, such as the removal of street lights and cables, is creating an unsafe environment for residents at night even as it costs FCTA a lot to repair and replace them.
Tpl. Nkwocha also revealed that his department had noticed all sorts of environmental eyesores like indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainages, damaged water pipelines and infiltration of commercial motorcycle (popularly called Okada) operators into the FCC centre, pointing out that the department was working closely with relevant agencies to eliminate them and restore FCC’s aesthetics.
He called on residents to be FCTA’s partners in progress by keeping their environments clean and ensuring that activities of hoodlums are promptly reported.
