The Need To Curb Spate Of Vandalism In Nig

The Need To Curb Spate Of Vandalism In Nig

Vandalism is an action involving the deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property.

This act is a crime of national proportion and a menace that negatively affects the growth of the country.

North, South, East, or West, no place is spared from this ignoble act as street lights, electricity facilities, crude oil, and water pipelines are vandalized or stolen.

Worst of all is the vandalism and theft of chairs, tables, window frames, and accessories as well as roofing sheets in public schools across the country.

A look at the situation shows clearly that most acts of vandalism are carried out by young adults. For example, the theft of transformer cables and oil as well as electricity wires for sale.

It is a known fact that electricity wires are stolen and sold for its copper, which is used in making jewellery while the transformer oil is stolen and used for cooking.

Very worrisome is that the oil, when stolen and sold for thousands of Naira, is mixed with diesel to increase the quantity of the petroleum product for use in articulated vehicles.

Also, the destruction of crude oil pipelines is carried out in a bid to steal crude for illegal refining and oil bunkering.

Similarly, metal caps that are used to cover manholes on major roads are stolen and traded to some small foundries within the country.

Regrettably, the sale of stolen or second-hand car battery has all of a sudden become lucrative in most parts of the south south region of the country.

In Abuja and other states, many car owners have noticed that car wipers and mud guards disappeared from their cars as well as theft of their car catalyst, which costs several thousands of Naira

This situation is not only worrisome but sad as it leaves the government and individuals with the extra task of replacing the vandalized items.

Motorists are left at the mercy of the dark and criminals when streetlights on major roads are vandalized just as Pupils and Students in many public schools across the country are forced to learn in difficult environments as their class rooms have been stripped of chairs, tables, windows and roofs.

To this end, vandalism has over the years affected the socio-economic well-being of Nigeria.

According to a report, Nigeria spent twelve point eight billion Naira to fix and replace one hundred and seventeen KVA power towers across the country due to vandalism.

Similarly, the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparent Initiative, NEITI’s report, stated that Nigeria lost a whooping sum of sixteen trillion Naira due to oil theft as a result of pipeline vandalism in the country.

NEITI went further to explain that the country recorded seven thousand, one hundred and thirty-four cases of pipeline vandalism within five years.

This, according to the Federal Government agency, cost the country four hundred and seventy one billion Naira to repair.

Unfortunately, in most cases, such as vandalism of electricity transformers and wires, residents of the affected area bear the cost of replacing such materials.

These numbers explain a painful picture of the effects of vandalism on the country.

This is why it is generally agreed that Vandalism has affected productivity as blackouts caused as a result of stealing of transformer cables and oil led to the closure of businesses, which affects the economy and ultimately the country.

In the Niger Delta, the destruction of crude oil pipelines has degraded the environment and has led to a poor state of health and even the death of some people of the area.

Some residents in Abuja and other major cities in the nation have lost their car tires or sustained serious injuries because some unpatriotic Nigerians have removed manhole covers on roads.

One may wonder what has led to such a crime?

People have blamed this illegal act to poverty and greed as well as ignorance.

This excuse should however not be the reason for one to engage in a crime that makes people suffer and retard the economy.

Also, some analyst have blamed the failure of communities across the country to take ownership of government property within their domains as to why the crimes go on unabated.

Others have stressed the inability of Government and its agencies to carry out effective intelligence gathering and its failure to engage the use of technology to tackle the menace as well as bring the perpetrators to book has emboldened those engaged in the crime.

This is why it is necessary that steps are taken to nip the crime in the bud.

To this end, the law must be amended to prescribe stiff penalties for those who engage in vandalism as well as those who patronize vandals to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to engage in such acts.

Community leaders should also take steps to ensure that residents of their communities protect government property sited in their areas.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps which is the lead agency saddled with the responsibility to protect government facilities including oil pipelines along with the Navy and other Security agencies should step up surveillance to check the destruction of Government property.

Since it’s important to engage the people in the task of curbing this crime, the government through its media agencies must carry out sustained media campaigns to sensitize the people on the dangers this crime poses to the society.

Ekemini Ubong, Edited By Grace Namiji