*Dept Reinstalls Stolen Infrastructure, Reveals Ingenious Method To Forestall Theft
*Manhole Covers, Streetlights, Among Items Recovered
By Felix Durumbah, Abuja
The spirited bid to end public infrastructure vandalism in the nation’s capital received a major boost today as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command and FCT Administration (FCTA)’s Department of Facilities Maintenance and Management (DFMM), announced a significant haul.
Suspects linked to the crime have been arrested and were paraded, today too.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Command’s Headquarters, Area 11, Abuja, the FCT Commissioner of Police (CP), Ahmed Mohamed Sanusi, flanked, among others, by Director of DFMM, Engr. (Dr.) Ayuba A. Usman, listed some of the items vandalized within the city.
According to him, the items, which were displayed during the briefing, include streetlights, grills, manhole covers, armored cables, fake plate numbers, and others.
People&Politics gathered that to reassure public safety, especially of motorists, the DFMM has immediately reinstalled some of the manhole covers along Independent Avenue.
Decrying the adverse effects of vandalism and criminality perpetrated in FCT on societal well-being, the CP assured that no crime would go unpunished.
Parading the suspects, the Commissioner highlighted their alleged involvement in vandalizing public infrastructure, saying that they will be subsequently prosecuted in court.
Stressing the imperative of public cooperation in reporting suspicious activities, CP Sanusi urged FCT residents to remain vigilant, assuring that the Command was always ready to curtail the menace of vandalism in the Territory.
Speaking during the reinstallation of the stolen items, DFMM Director, Engr. Usman, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), appreciated, on behalf of FCTA, the FCT Police Command for its collaborative efforts in combating the menace of vandalism of public assets.
Gushing with joy that the efforts have yielded predictable results through the apprehension of suspected vandals and recovery of items, the FCTA top shot revealed that for the past three years, the Administration has introduced a specialized welding mechanism of manhole covers so that they cannot be easily removed.
He reiterated the Administration’s efforts in providing world-class infrastructure in FCT in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and encouraged the public to remain vigilant and assist FCTA and law enforcement agencies in combating crime by reporting anybody seen vandalizing public infrastructure.
Engr. Usman said such attitude is part of the civil responsibility of all citizens.
*PHOTO CAPTION: CP Sanusi (with mic), Engr. Usman (to the CP’s immediate right) as well as FCTA top officials and the Command’s top brass at the briefing… today.
