Ogun moves to stiffen penalties for vandals of public infrastructure

Ogun State is taking a firm stance against the rampant vandalism of public infrastructure, particularly electricity facilities, which Governor Dapo Abiodun has decried as economic sabotage. The state government is preparing to present a bill to the State House of Assembly that seeks to significantly increase penalties for those caught engaging in such destructive acts.

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Yes, we know that vandalisation is an issue. When we constructed the Sagamu-Abeokuta Road, we installed streetlights along the entire 42-kilometre stretch. Within one and a half years, every one of those streetlights had been stolen.

Governor Abiodun highlighted the severe impact of vandalism on the state's development and service delivery, citing the complete destruction of streetlights along the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway within a short period. He emphasized that the current punishments are insufficient to deter offenders who are essentially undermining the state's economic growth and the well-being of its citizens.

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They first started by stealing the cables — cutting them, tying them to vehicles and pulling them out — before moving on to the fittings.

The proposed legislation, spearheaded by the Attorney General's office, aims to establish a robust legal framework to prosecute vandals and serve as a strong deterrent. The governor's commitment to improving electricity supply through strategic partnerships is underscored by this move, signaling a zero-tolerance policy towards the destruction of critical social infrastructure.

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One day, while returning from Lagos, I noticed that after driving for about a kilometre, there was no single light pole again. From cables to fittings and eventually the poles themselves, the destruction continued. After a while, you could drive five kilometres without seeing a single light pole.