Last Saturday, August 8, 2026, I was a guest on the breakfast show of Silverbird Television to discuss the menace of vandalism in Nigeria. What prompted this discussion was the recent news report that vandals have descended on the link flyover between Alakija and the FESTAC Town axis of Lagos. The state’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated that investigations showed that the suspects allegedly removed iron rods, steel reinforcements, cables and other materials critical to the bridge’s structural integrity. According to the commissioner, 27 hoodlums suspected to have committed the crime have been arrested during a joint overnight operation involving operatives of the Rapid Response Squad and the Kick Against Indiscipline task force.
It is noteworthy that this is not an isolated event. All over the country, acts of vandalism are being perpetrated by scoundrels and undesirable elements. Manholes are underground access points used for drainage, sewage, and utility systems, typically covered with heavy metal or concrete lids. When left uncovered, they can become deep and dangerous pits capable of causing severe injuries or death. For some time now, the Federal Capital Territory has been in the throes of unprecedented theft of these manhole covers. The theft of heavy metal manhole covers on Abuja roads creates deep, dangerous holes on highways and walkways. This vandalism damages vehicles, causes traffic accidents, and threatens the lives of pedestrians and children, especially when hidden by floodwaters during rain.
