Assembly decries manhole theft, seeks regulation of scavengers
The Lagos State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, urged the state executive to take action to regulate the activities of scavengers and curb manhole theft in Lagos.
In a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Eti-Osa II constituency, Gbolahan Yishawu, at the plenary, the House noted that it had enacted various laws, including the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Ch. C17, 2015 and Environmental Management Protection Law, 2017, to protect and maintain the infrastructure provided by the government across the state.
The House stated that the infrastructures, including roads with underground ducts, iron-cast manhole covers and bridges with steel safety rails, among others, were designed to enhance the quality of life for residents.
Yishaw, however, expressed concerns about “the growing menace of scavengers and criminally-minded individuals who, through their activities, vandalise and steal critical infrastructure, such as manhole covers, pedestrian bridge railings, streetlight cables, and other essential road furniture.”
The motion was backed by the majority of the lawmakers, who warned that if the trend was not swiftly curtailed, issues such as the destruction of critical road infrastructure would bring significant setbacks to the state’s infrastructural development.
The House, presided over by the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, therefore, resolved to call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, to enforce the provisions of the Environmental Management Protection Law, 2017.
The House also said the government should “as a matter of urgency, replace all the manhole covers that have been removed in order to ensure the safety of Lagos residents.”
It also called on the Commissioner, Ministry of Information and Strategy to embark on awareness campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of manhole theft and encourage reporting of suspicious activities.
