Lagos State Government on Tuesday vowed to prosecute residents in the habit of vandalising infrastructure put in place for public use.

The pronouncement came during an inspection by some members of the State Executive Council to No. 6 Reeve Road Ikoyi where a property owner (names withheld) was alleged to have vandalised a drainage infrastructure recently constructed by the State Government. 

The delegation, which included the Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab; Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Engr. Femi Daramola and Special Adviser on Environment, Mr. Kunle Rotimi-Akodu inspected the vandalised portion of the drainage.

Speaking after the inspection, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab said residents must be informed that cutting road infrastructure without the permission of the State Government is illegal.

He vowed that the property owner would be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to such property owners across the state who may contemplate damaging road infrastructure all in the name of creating entry and exit points.

“I would like to appeal to residents to desist from all forms of illegal acts because the Government cannot afford the huge cost of reconstruction of public infrastructure over and over again resulting from unwholesome project development activities. The cost of doing the right thing is cheaper than the cost of correcting the consequences of refusal to do them”, he said.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Engr. Femi Daramola said the aforementioned road/drainage was built and commissioned barely a year ago, adding that the tenement in question had abused the road and drainage channel without due process thereby defacing the environment and distorting the flow of stormwater. 

He explained that the tenement damaged the infrastructure while claiming to construct an extra gate/entrance, saying that the team had to visit the place to find out the level of damage caused and ascertain if any approval was received before the commencement of the illegal construction.

He stressed that it was a gross abuse of infrastructure because huge public funds were spent on the drainage construction, adding that the Ministry of Justice would take necessary steps to serve notices to the tenement.

He advised residents to ensure they go through the right process by writing and requesting approvals from relevant agencies before tampering with public infrastructure, stressing that when approval is granted, the project will be supervised to ensure the right specifications are in place and the right thing is done at all times. 

He opined that the present administration remains determined and would continue to work hard to ensure Lagos is flood-free and achieves a sustainable environment, charging residents to always support the efforts of the government. 

“The governor is working assiduously to put connectivity all around the state; All public infrastructure when completed should be guarded jealously. Take ownership of these infrastructures when you see road abuse, send an alert, report it because it’s a punishable offence and the law will take its course”, he said

Also on the team were the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Olalekan Shodeinde; Permanent Secretary, Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen; General Manager of Lagos State Public Works Corporation, Engr. Somide and other top government officials.