The Lagos State House of Assembly has called for improved community policing and stricter prosecution of those involved in the vandalism and illegal trade of public infrastructure across the state.
The Punch reported that the lawmakers made the call during Monday’s plenary, urging the state government to strengthen the capacity of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and other community-based security groups through better funding, equipment and training.
They said stronger surveillance at the grassroots would help security personnel detect suspicious activities and prevent the destruction of government-owned facilities, including roads, bridges and other public assets.
The Assembly also stressed that tackling infrastructure vandalism should go beyond arresting those caught destroying public property, insisting that people and businesses involved in purchasing, selling or benefiting from stolen government assets must also face investigation and prosecution.
The issue was raised following a motion sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ikorodu II Constituency, Moshood Aro, who drew attention to the increasing vandalism of public infrastructure, particularly in FESTAC.
Aro said the destruction of facilities funded by taxpayers placed an unnecessary financial burden on residents, as government would have to spend additional money to repair or replace damaged infrastructure.
“It baffles me that some residents of Lagos ought to be experiencing this kind of situation, knowing that we are paying for these facilities with our money,” Aro said.
He noted that the continued destruction of public facilities meant taxpayers were effectively paying twice for the same infrastructure.
“Public funds are being used to provide these facilities, and when they are damaged or vandalised, public funds are again required to repair them. This places an additional burden on taxpayers,” he said.
The lawmaker called for closer monitoring of businesses and individuals dealing in scrap materials, particularly those suspected of purchasing stolen government property.
He argued that disrupting the market for stolen public assets was essential to reducing infrastructure vandalism, adding that suspects arrested over such offences should be properly prosecuted.
“persons arrested for vandalising public infrastructure should not be released without proper prosecution and, where found guilty, should be sentenced accordingly.”
Aro further urged government agencies, security authorities and communities to improve cooperation in tackling the problem.
“We, as citizens and representatives of the people, need to take this matter seriously.
All the relevant agencies need to sit down, collaborate and respond appropriately to these challenges,” he said.
Supporting the motion, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said authorities must target both those who vandalise public facilities and those who facilitate the trade in stolen government property.
Obasa also called on ministries, departments and agencies responsible for enforcing environmental and infrastructure-related laws to ensure that relevant legislation was widely publicised and effectively enforced.
He said community security structures, including the Neighbourhood Watch and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, should receive adequate support to enable them to identify and prevent criminal activities.
The Speaker maintained that properly equipped community-level security personnel could play a critical role in gathering intelligence and monitoring public infrastructure before vandals strike.
Contributing to the debate, Lawal Olumegbon urged the state government to strengthen collaboration with the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas in tackling vandalism.
Stephen Ogundipe, another member of the Assembly, said the challenge extended beyond FESTAC, noting that public infrastructure was being destroyed in several communities across Lagos State.
The lawmakers therefore called for a coordinated approach that combines stronger grassroots surveillance with effective investigation, prosecution and sanctions against vandals and those who profit from stolen public assets.
