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Tag: Vandalism

  • TCN overwhelmed by activities of vandals

    TCN overwhelmed by activities of vandals

    The Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Kaduna Region, Mr Nasir Mansur, has urged communities to act fast in curtailing vandalism, saying that the firm was overwhelmed by vandalism.

    He made the call on Monday during a sensitisation and public awareness campaign tagged: ‘Encroachment of the TCN Right of Way and Vandalisation of High-Tension Installations’, at Mando, Kaduna State.

    He stated that vandalism was the greatest challenge in Nigeria’s power sector, saying, “traditional leaders and the members of the communities are critical stakeholders that will help in curbing the menace.

    “This trend is dangerous, if we continue like this, I am afraid, electricity cannot be sustainable. The consequences of vandalism include interrupted power supply, huge losses and other associated damages; we expect all patriotic citizens to protect these facilities,” he said.

    Technical presentations were done by the Health, Safety and Environment’, Electrical and Maintenance Department (EMD) as well as Systems Lines Departments of TCN.

    Mr Yakubu Abdulrazak from EMD, explained that the right of way for high voltage power lines were 25 meters left and 25 meters right, adding that it was dangerous to farm or build on the right of way.

    “People encroaching the company’s right of way may suffer electrocution, fire hazards and structural collapse, leading to deaths and loss of properties, ” he said.

    Also, traditional leaders at the event, pledged their support for the cause, saying they would ensure dissemination of information to their subjects and collaborate to report any issue of vandalisation.

    One of them, Adamu Saleh, the Sarkin Jaji, commended TCN for the sensitisation programme, saying it has armed the community leaders with information on the dangers of encroaching right of way, as well as vandalisation.

    Saleh said, “Security must be strengthened along these facilities; traditional leaders and security must collaborate to fight against encroachment of right of way and vandalism.”

    Another ruler, the Sarkin Mando, Sani Musa,  stated that his Palace had been reporting suspected moves to vandalise TCN equipment or erect a structure on the right of way.

    “We will continue to support authorities in ensuring businesses and houses on the right of way are evacuated to avoid tragedy, ” Musa said.

    TCN provided hot-lines to report damages or vandalism, to call or send mails, which include: 07016839880 or affairs.public@tcn.org.ng.

  • Vandalism: FG tightens security on Third Mainland Bridge

    Vandalism: FG tightens security on Third Mainland Bridge

    The Federal Ministry of Works says it is working with the police to tighten security and stop vandalism on the Third Mainland Bridge to save the public infrastructure.

    The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, gave the assurance in an interview with NAN on Sunday in Lagos.

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the police command in Lagos State had on Friday arrested a suspected vandal removing LED road stud lights on the newly-renovated Third Mainland Bridge.

    According to the police, the suspect had already removed 10 of the lights before he was caught by policemen on patrol.

    Kesha said that the the ministry would not tolerate any vandalism on public infrastructure.

    She said that police trucks had been stationed on the bridge to allow officers to quickly respond to incidents and check vandalism.

    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; this 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.”

    NAN reports that cat eye lights are small reflective markers on the road that help with visibility at night.

    Kesha also regretted vandalism on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    She said: “The newly-installed street lights on Kara Bridge on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway suffered vandalism as soon as the cables were completed.

    “As a result, the street lights are now standing there but cannot be used because the cables are missing.

    “We are waiting for the contractors to re-do 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 that the Federal Government had replaced almost all manhole covers stolen by miscreants on federal roads in Lagos State.

    She said that, to prevent further theft, the ministry used Polyvinyl Chloride. (PVC) on the Third Mainland Bridge, replacing iron gratings on manholes with it.

    She said that PVC was cheaper than iron gratings but it reduced overall replacement costs.

    She added that PVC was potentially easier to identify and less attractive to thieves.

    The federal controller of works, who expressed worry at the rate of vandalism of public infrastructure, urged vandals to repent.

    She warned that anyone caught vandalising public property would be dealt with by the police.

    Kesha expressed the government’s determination to keep its projects on track in spite of setbacks.

    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.”

    She advised Nigerians to protect public property as if they were their private property.

    She added that Nigerians should report any vandalism or potential threats on public property to relevant authorities.

    Commenting, Mr Ayotunde Bally, the Chief Executive Officer of Dembally Ltd., a real estate development company, said that vandalism wasted resources.

    “As a construction professional, I know that building infrastructure requires significant investments and efforts. Vandalism undermines these efforts,” he said.

    He urged security agencies to do more to prevent vandalism.

    He advised governments to engage local communities and educate them on the importance of protecting public infrastructure.

    “There is need to work together to build a culture of ownership and responsibility for our national assets,” he said.

    Bally said that vandalism of public property showed lack of civic responsibility, disregard for the common good, and selfishness.

    He advised that law enforcement should be strengthened and more stringent penalties imposed on vandals.

    Mr Chikezie Obioma, a mechanical engineer, said that vandalism had significant effects on project implementation.

    He said that it could lead to delay in project implementation, as damaged infrastructure would need to be repaired or replaced, causing setbacks.

    He said that vandalism would result in additional costs for repairs, replacements and security measures.

    Obioma said, “Vandalism raises security concerns, requiring increased security measures to protect projects, adding to costs and logistical challenges.

    “Repeated vandalism incidents can erode public trust in government projects and undermine confidence in government’s ability to deliver essential services.

    “It can disrupt essential services such as power, water and transportation, negatively impacting citizens’ daily lives and the economy.

    “It can deter investors and hinder economic growth, as it creates an uncertain and unstable business environment.

    “It puts a strain on resources, diverting funds and personnel away from other important projects and priorities as well as undermine development efforts, hindering progress in critical sectors.”

    He urged Nigerians to regard public infrastructure as theirs and take pride in maintaining them.

  • Alleged 2nd Niger bridge vandalism: Police begin investigation

    Alleged 2nd Niger bridge vandalism: Police begin investigation

    The Police Command in Anambra says it has commenced investigation into the alleged vandalism of the second Niger bridge that is linking Asaba and Onitsha in Delta and Anambra respectively.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, made this known in an interview with NAN on Tuesday in Onitsha.

    Ikenga said that he was yet to confirm the incident; I have not confirmed the incident, but we have escalated it to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to get the necessary information.

    When asked about the 24 hours patrol launched on Aug. 4, 2023 by a Joint Task force of Anambra and Delta state Police Command as part of efforts to make the bridge safe for road users, he said that the operation was still ongoing.

    He, however, said that he was yet to confirm if the video was a recent development or not.

    NAN reports that a yet-to-be-identified man was seen in a viral video narrating how some rail fittings connecting the second Niger bridge was allegedly removed by some suspected scavengers.

    When contacted on the development, Mr Uche Orji, the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, simply said that security action had been taken and he was not ready to disclosed further information.

    Also speaking, Anambra Commissioner for Information, Mr Paul Nwosu, said that the incident of the alleged vandalism on the 2nd Niger Bridge had been brought to the attention of the Highway Department of the Federal Ministry of Works.

    According to him, this is not to say that the state government is not concerned about the theft of those iron.

    “Police is aware of the theft; before now, there has been an indication of nefarious human being looking to make away with those things.

    “There has been a patrol of policemen along the bridge, you know these people; you won’t know where they are hiding to know if patrol has passed before they attack.

    “One thing about criminals is that they are also members of our society.

    “They know where you have security presence and where you don’t; immediately they noticed a kind of movement, they come out to do what they want to do.

    “It’s not as if the security agencies are not on the alert, but just when it appears that they have moved to oversight in a different place, these thieves will strike.

    “You know people who gathered condemn iron, but this one is not a condemn iron, this one is not a disposed iron.

    “These are irons that are actively in use, to make sure that people enjoyed the brand new road that federal government put for us to enjoy, but security agencies particularly the police have been on patrol in that area,” he said.

    The commissioner said that it had long been discovered that some thieves had been carrying out their nefarious activities on that bridge.

    He said that a unit of mobile police would stationed on the bridge to forestall future occurrence.

  • Labour Party petitions SGF over office vandalism

    Labour Party petitions SGF over office vandalism

    The Labour Party (LP) has petitioned the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) over Wednesday’s vandalism of its offices  by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    Mr Obiora Ifoh, the LP National Publicity Secretary (LP) said this in the petition, a copy of which was made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

    “It has become unavoidably necessary to request for your urgent intervention, being the Regulatory Agency for trade unions including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has over the years engaged in a war of attrition with our party.

    “It came to a head and unbearable when the NLC under the leadership of Comrade Joe Ajeoro directed the picketing of our party’s National Headquarters and our chapter offices across the country.

    “The unwarranted attack in our office resulted in the destruction of several properties,” Ifoh said.

    He added:“The NLC claims to be owners of the party and therefore wants to impose the leadership of the party, exerts overwhelming control to achieve a political end.

    “It should be noted that Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) prohibits any association from contributing to the funds of any political party.

    “It is a criminal offence under section 15 of the Trade Union Act to use Trade Unions Funds whether directly or indirectly to fund a political party.

    “Similarly, the NLC has no right to picket an organization where there is no trade dispute, The LP has no staff who are members of the NLC. The actions of the NLC is a clear violation of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Trade Union Act and other relevant laws.”

    “It is of importance to further draw your attention to the fact that it is only members who are financially up to date with the party, who have rights and obligations to in the party (See Article 9(3)(i) and (iii) of our constitution).

    “NLC members are not card-carrying members of LP. The party cannot be owned by any association, membership of the party is on individual basis.

    “The LP Constitution says the party is open to all Nigerians who accept its ideology, programs and the constitution, irrespective of their religion, ethnic, gender, social and economic status.

    “However, the organs of the party as decided by the members assume leadership of the party. How this is achieved is well spelt out in the constitution.

    “As lawful citizens we didn’t want to confront them in an uncivilized manner in order to avoid breakdown of law and order. We had the option of also mobilizing party faithfuls to confront them.

    “Doing that at this point where the harsh economic climate is having its toll on the Nigerian people will result to anarchy.

    “Hence, the urgent need to call the NLC and its leadership led by Ajaero to order, educate them on the limit of their power, condemn their rascality, abuse of office and discipline them as appropriate”.

  • Minister blames vandals for latest collapse of electricity grid

    Minister blames vandals for latest collapse of electricity grid

    The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, has blamed the latest collapse of electricity grid on vandals. He says it was due to the sudden loss of about 400MW of generation, caused by vandalism on a transmission tower on the Odukpani — Ikot Ekpene 330kV double circuit transmission line.

    The Power Minister disclosed this in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media) Isa Sanusi.

    His words: “Further to our earlier press release, we wish to apprise the general public that the immediate cause of national blackout (system collapse) was an act of vandalism on a transmission tower on the Odukpani — Ikot Ekpene 330kV double circuit transmission line thus resulting in a sudden loss of about 400MW of generation. This consequently led to a cascade of plants shut down across the country.

    “We wish to notify the public that power on the grid is being restored sequentially by the System Operator as other on-grid power plants are being dispatched to cover the lost generation capacity from the Calabar power plant owned by the Niger Power Holding Company Ltd.

    The minister said the federal government is probing the immediate and remote causes of the recurring grid failure in the country.

    He said the process of restoring power supply is ongoing following the national grid collapse at 6.30 p. m. on Friday.

    A statement by Sanusi noted that some sections of the national grid had been energised already and supply restored to consumers.

    “We wish to notify the general public of the incidence of a system collapse which occurred at 18:30hrs on April 8, resulting in power outages in many parts of the country.

    “A detailed investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the recurring grid failure is currently ongoing by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and System Operator of the national grid.

    “We wish to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is working assiduously to deliver on the much-needed reforms and investments,” he said.

    Sanusi said the reforms included Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and other investment that are critical to improving the capacity and reliability of the national grid.

    He said that the reform was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on closing infrastructure deficits in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy

  • 520 suspects arrested for arson, vandalism, others in Lagos

    520 suspects arrested for arson, vandalism, others in Lagos

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, on Tuesday, said 520 suspects have been arrested in connection with the series of arson, vandalism, burglary, and robbing of unsuspecting members of the public of their valuables during the unrest occasioned by the #EndSARS protest in the state.

    Odumosu, who disclosed this during a press briefing at the command headquarters in the Ikeja area of the state, said the #EndSARS protest was hijacked by hoodlums, adding that the arrested suspects would be charged to court.

    While stating the facilities affected in the state, the CP said, “A lot of public and private facilities were set ablaze, our police stations were also burnt and vandalized.

    “Based on the incidences, the command swung into action realizing that this is no more #EndSARS, where lives and property are lost and vandalized and burnt. We realized that the protest had been hijacked by hoodlums, so we moved in and we were able to recover some of the stolen items and arrested the perpetrators.

    “So far, 520 suspects have been arrested for various offenses, ranging from arson, robbery, murder, rioting, malicious damage, and unlawful possession of firearms. All the suspects we have arrested are not #EndSARS protesters and they will all be charged.”

  • LASEMA expresses concern over pipeline vandalism in Lagos

    LASEMA expresses concern over pipeline vandalism in Lagos

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has raised the alarm of possible fire outbreak following pipeline vandalism at Kakatin Road, Aboru in Mosan-Okunola Local Council Area of the State.

    Director General of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, raised the alarm in an interview with in Lagos on Sunday.

    The LASEMA boss urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to shut down the pipeline from the source to avert major disaster.

    “I want to inform Lagos residents that pipeline vandalism has been reported in Kakatin Road leading to Aboru Mosan Okunola Local Government Development Area (LCDA) Lagos,” he said.

    Oke-Osanyintolu said that officials of the agency and other stakeholders were on stand by.

    He urged residents of the vicinity to avoid the use of naked fire around the area to avert disaster.

     

     

     

     

  • Vandalism: NSCDC nabs 8 in Badagry

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos Command, on Wednesday said it had arrested eight suspects, including four Beninese, for pipeline vandalism, vowing to intensify the fight against the crime in the state.

    The Lagos State Commandant, Mr Cyprian Otoibhi, told newsmen in Lagos that the men of the marine anti-vandal unit of the NSCDC, Lagos Command, apprehended the suspects on Friday on Topo high sea, in Badagry waterways.

    Parading the suspects, Otoibhi said that products suspected to be Petroleum Motor Spirit, three wooden boats and 250 kegs of 25 litres were recovered from them.

    He said that the suspects would be handed over to the appropriate agency for further investigation and prosecution.

    The commandant said the corps would not rest on its oars in carrying out its mandate of protecting critical infrastructure as well as lives and properties, towards ensuring a crime-free Lagos.

    “I enjoin the populace to avail the corps and other security agencies with necessary intelligence information to rid the state of all forms of crimes,” Otoibhi said.

  • Pipeline Vandalism: Navy arrests alleged notorious kingpin

    Pipeline Vandalism: Navy arrests alleged notorious kingpin

    The Nigerian Navy on Tuesday said it had arrested Mr Shaibu Ogunmola, an alleged notorious pipeline vandal kingpin under its Operation Awase in Lagos.

     

    Operation Awase was set up by the Nigerian Army in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy in 2014 to tackle the vandalism of the NNPC pipelines in Majidun, Ikorodu and other parts of the state and to crave the maximum cooperation of host communities.

     

    Rear Admiral Obed Ngalabak, Leader of the operation, told newsmen that Shuaibu and his boys were known for vandalising oil pipelines under the Altas Cove covering about 70 kilometers.

     

    The Atlas Cove Depot in Lagos was designed to receive imported petroleum products and through the line products are distributed to various part of the country.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the Ilashe Community where Shuaibu operates, drums were buried by the sides of the each pipeline to siphon products when being released from the Atlas cove to other depots.

     

    “Two weeks back, we got information about the operation of some people in Ilashe, part of Atlas cove.

     

    “Following that information, we came and realised that the oil pipelines have been divided into fields by three people, Shuaibu, Barshiru and Dele.

     

    “The arrest of Shuaibu which we did last week on Jan. 17 was in line with the operation Awase which is about the protection of oil pipelines.

     

    “He is the ring leader and has been in this business for over 30 years,’’ he said

     

    He said that Shuaibu had groomed some boys in the business adding that his arrest was significant in ensuring the end of vandalism in Nigeria.

     

    Ngalabak said Shuaibu would soon be handed over to relevant agency for immediate and proper prosecution to serve as a deterrent to his boys and others in the line of business.

     

    “We hope that Shuaibu’s arrest will yield result and that proper people in position will do all that is required to punish him,’’ he added

     

    He assured that the operation would not rest until all those involved in oil pipeline vandalism were arrested and brought to book.

     

    “We still have about three Shuaibu’s, we have Dele, we have Bashiru, and one other person and we are after them.

     

    “We are not going to rest until we get them, except if they leave Nigeria but we will make sure that we get them.

     

    “And we know that they will not leave because this is where they make their money; but if they leave here, that is good for us because that is our aim but if they come back, we will get them,’’ he said.

     

    He called for support on logistics for the operations to work effectively and urged Nigerian to support every effort that would help to curb pipeline vandalism for economic growth and development in the country.

    Also, the General Manager, Security, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Sam Otoboeze, said that the arrest of Shuaibu meant celebration for the corporation.

    “The arrest means celebration for us because of the deterrent impact, not only the prosecution of the key character, but the message that will go out.

    “We do hope that the way it is handled will determine to what extent the success will be sustained.

    We celebrate that arrest and we thank the Nigerian Navy for picking him up and want to hope that this continues until so many other Shuaibus’ are arrested because certainly, they are more than 10,’’ he said

    Otoboeze noted that Shuaibu and others in the business of pipeline vandalism remained the major enemies of Nigeria.

    “You can imagine the wastages, not the one stolen but the one wasted for it to drip into their well, underground tank; you can imagine what that is.

    “So, the economic sabotage is massive and a fight to bring it down is something to be celebrated. It is also celebration of reliving the country from the shackles of poverty.

    He assured that the NNPC would continue to strengthen its partnership with all the agencies to ensure effective protection of the nation’s oil pipelines for economic growth and development in the country.

    “We have a kind of robust intelligence network, outside our own system, which we can also support the government.

    “Also, to be the voice of the agency when they require support, like logistic to make them succeed, that we will do,’’ he added.

    This, he noted would continue to strengthen the relationship and ensure that we keep the fire burning.

    Commenting on the economic values of the Atlas Cove pipeline, he said: “the economic benefit is huge, one is that the history of fuel scarcity will be gone, the origin, the foundation, the tap root of fuel scarcity was from the attack of this place.

    “The moment this place is tampered with, there will be fuel scarcity; just imagine the quantity of fuel that goes into the soil wasted.

    “Then imagine the more that is scooped and sent across to Cotonou, because there is their major artery of their supply.

    “So, if this battle is won, we will be able to think and it might even help to crash fuel price, because when you have it in surplus, then of cause, in demand and supply argument of typical economics, it could come down.

    “So, we need it, it is a war for the nation not a war for one person, it is not for security agencies alone or NNPC alone.

    “It is for all and sundry because down the line it affect those that are yet unborn, including the children in the school and the aged who are waiting for their pension.’’

    Meanwhile, in an interview with Shuaibu, he denied being a vandalism kingpin adding that he had no idea of the reason he was arrested by the Navy.

    “I don’t know why they arrested me, I was in my house, I was going to pray when this people came and arrested me.

     

    “I am a business man, I am a hotelier,’’ he said.

  • Vandalism compromises FG’s efforts toward 30% broadband penetration – NCC

    Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned against vandalism of telecommunication infrastructure, stressing that the act is compromising Federal Government’s efforts toward achieving 30 per cent broadband penetration in 2018.

    Miss Helen Obi, the commission’s Head of Zonal Operations in Niger, said this at a one-day sensitisation programme on “Protection of Telecommunication Infrastructure” on Thursday.

    According to her, telecom infrastructure serve all citizens and should be owned collectively and everyone should work against its vandalism so that it can serve the purpose for which it is meant.

    She said “we are here to sensitise the people as stakeholders not only as consumers, including local governments and agencies of Federal Government on the need to protect telecom infrastructure.

    “This is actually key to the 8-point agenda of the NCC Chief Executive, Prof. Umar Danbatta, to ensuring quality service and broadband penetration.

    “This is because tampering with these infrastructure compromises the efforts of government to meet the 30 per cent broadband penetration target for 2018.”

    She said that so far, NCC had achieved 22 per cent broadband penetration and hoped to reach 30 per cent target.

    Dr Lawal Bello of the Department of Technical Standards and Network Integrity (TSNI) of the commission, said that the industry had continued to lose huge sums of money as a result of vandalism of telecom infrastructure.

    He said that the spate of destruction of telecom infrastructure across the country had slowed down the growth of services.

    Bello outlined some of the challenges facing the sector as willful damage of telecom infrastructure to extort money from service providers, and local communities or individuals barring technical staff of service providers from installing equipment or carrying out repair on existing systems.

    He added that diesel theft and digging up of cables for sale were also among the problems.

    The TSNI official said that NCC had been using various avenues such as the Consumer Outreach Programme, the Telecom Consumer Parliament to sensitise people and to educate them about the dangers associated with vandalism of such infrastructure.

    He called for speedy passing of the bill of Telecom Infrastructure and the need to declare it a national asset.

    Bello added that the protection of telecom infrastructure was not only NCC’s responsibility or that of security agencies, but of all patriotic citizens.

    Mr Abubakar Salisu, the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources, Office of the Head of Service in Niger, urged the commission to give incentives to states that have less cases of vandalism.

    According to him, incentives will encourage states to do more and make others to follow.

    NCC statistics shows that Niger has the least occurrence of telecommunication infrastructure vandalism.

    During the sensitisation programme, telecom users were given opportunity to ask questions and lay their complains, which the commission pledged to look into.

    In attendance were security agencies, community members and telecom operators and associations.