Thieves have continued to frustrate the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) which has expressed deep concern over the increasing stealing of manhole covers across the Federal Capital City.
Addressing journalists shortly after inspecting ongoing repairs on some recently stolen manhole covers in the Central Business District of the city today, January 6, the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, said that such acts damage public infrastructure and deprive citizens of essential services and resources.
He said that the stolen covers were specifically designed to withstand heavy vehicular traffic and are crucial for the proper functioning of the city’s drainage system.
Engr. Dauda emphasized the security implications of the theft of public infrastructure, saying that the FCT Administration is working with security agencies to strengthen measures to check acts of vandalism in the nation’s capital city.
“It is unfortunate that we continue to face this challenge. Despite our efforts to replace these covers, they are repeatedly stolen. This is primarily a security issue, and the FCTA administration will take decisive action to curb vandalism within the city.”
The Executive Secretary said that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has directed the swift replacement of all stolen covers to ensure public safety and prevent damage to vehicles.
He however explained the challenges of replacing these crucial infrastructure elements, saying: “Because of the nature of our infrastructure design, we have them in the middle of the road. There are sewer lines and some are storm water lines. They are load-bearing because they take the vehicular load. So, they are specially made for that purpose. So, replacing them, it takes time. It takes quite a deal of effort.”
The Executive Secretary highlighted efforts by the FCTA to explore alternative materials for the covers, such as composite materials, which are less attractive to thieves due to their low recycling value but regretted that they were still being targeted by vandals.
“In many other areas we have used other materials… you still see people coming to break them. For what purpose and for what benefit? I don’t know. Because when you steal infrastructure like this, it’s like stealing from yourself. It’s federal government resources, it’s the national resources that have been used to put it in place.”
He assured that the replacement will be completed soon, even as he called on the media to join in the campaign against the destructive behavior and educate the public on the importance of protecting public property.
