By Esther Agbo
The Federal Ministry of Works in collaboration with the Nigerian police has enhanced security measures on the Third Mainland Bridge to protect public infrastructure from vandalism.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, confirmed this during an interview with newsmen on Sunday.
According to reports, the move follows the arrest of a suspect by the operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad for allegedly removing LED road stud lights from the newly renovated Third Mainland Bridge on Friday.
According to the police, the suspect had already removed 10 of the lights before he was caught by policemen on patrol.
Kesha however noted that the ministry would not tolerate any vandalism on public infrastructure.
She said, “We have written to the Commissioner of Police to ensure more surveillance on the Third Mainland Bridge, and we have stationed police trucks on the bridge.
“Police officers now patrol the bridge more frequently; these increased security measures have led to the arrest of a number of miscreants, who were vandalising public property.
We saw that the cat-eye lights were vandalised, and the vandals were promptly arrested and taken to police custody.
More miscreants were also arrested for vandalism even on Monday. This shows a strong response from the authorities. Our eyes are on Third Mainland Bridge.”
Reports that cat-eye lights are small reflective markers on the road that help with visibility at night.
Reflecting on recent incidents, Kesha noted the vandalism of newly installed streetlights on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway’s Kara Bridge, where cables were stolen shortly after installation. Repairs are underway, and the ministry has requested heightened police patrols to prevent future thefts.
“The newly installed streetlights on Kara Bridge on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway suffered vandalism as soon as the cables were completed.
As a result, the streetlights are now standing there but cannot be used because the cables are missing.
We are waiting for the contractors to redo the wiring and energise it. Once the repairs are completed, we ask the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to increase patrol in the area to prevent further vandalism.’’ She said.
To combat theft of manhole covers on federal roads in Lagos, Kesha stated the Federal Government had replaced almost all manhole covers stolen by miscreants on federal roads in Lagos State, the ministry has replaced iron gratings with Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), which is less attractive to thieves and easier to identify.
Kesha urged vandals to desist from damaging public property and warned of strict police action against offenders.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining infrastructure despite challenges, and called on Nigerians to safeguard public assets and report any suspicious activities.
She said, “The setbacks have not, in any way, affected project implementation; the government is doing what it is supposed to do.
We are increasing surveillance to protect our common investments, the bridges and lights.”