Some Lagosians have expressed concerns over the illegal removal of drainage covers across the metropolis.

They said despite outcries and arrests, scavengers have continued to steal drainage covers in Lagos State in search of iron rods.

The Guardian observed that many of the drainage covers on state roads have either been stolen or vandalised.

The scavengers mostly converge at different locations at night, armed with hammers, chisels and others equipment.

Two weeks ago, the state government arrested a man in Ogudu while vandalising the iron reinforcement at the concrete barrier demarcating the Ogudu Garden Valley scheme from System One Channel (Odo Iya Alaro).

In May, the state government issued a warning against the vandalisation and theft of public assets.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, noted that theft and vandalisation of government property, especially those that are valuable and profitable, had become common.

He warned: “Anyone caught in vandalism and sale of items like railings on sidewalks, bridges, railroad tracks, iron from concrete barriers, as well as manhole covers, will face the law.”

He also urged residents to take ownership of public infrastructure.

But some residents said arrests and warnings have not deterred the criminals from tampering with drainage covers, thereby putting the lives of citizens in danger.

They called for more efforts to address the situation.

One Afeez narrated how a security officer atop a motorcycle at night, recently, encountered an uncovered drainage hole in the Ojuelegba area, and hit a tyre that had been placed over it.

“He fell off and suffered serious injuries, including deep cuts on his face,” Afeez said.

He called on the state government to ensure that stolen or damaged covers are replaced to avert putting the lives of Lagosians in danger.

When The Guardian reached out to the Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, he promised that the state government would increase monitoring. He also called for more citizens’ support.

He said: “The government cannot be there in the night to monitor someone removing manholes and breaking drainage covers. How many policemen are in Nigeria? How many are in Lagos? What is the population of Lagos State? These people are economic saboteurs. They are not friends of the society; they are criminals, and such people should be punished.

“We punish them whenever they are caught but they use the power of darkness to perpetrate this crime and it’s quite difficult to apprehend them. Those who patronise them are culpable. The government will go after them, and they will pay for their crimes.”

He added: “We will continue to step up advocacy. All of us should take responsibility for whatever the government puts in place so that people don’t continue to destroy them.”

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