Lagos Assembly Calls for Action Against Scavengers, Manhole Theft

• The House highlighted that infrastructures such as roads with underground ducts, iron-cast manhole covers, and bridges with steel safety rails are essential to improving residents’ quality of life
  

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The Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the state government to take decisive steps to regulate the activities of scavengers and address the rising theft of manhole covers across the state.

In a motion presented on Tuesday by Gbolahan Yishawu, the lawmaker representing Eti-Osa II constituency, the Assembly expressed concern over the increasing vandalism of critical infrastructure by scavengers and other individuals.

The House highlighted that infrastructures such as roads with underground ducts, iron-cast manhole covers, and bridges with steel safety rails are essential to improving residents’ quality of life.

Yishawu warned of the “growing menace” posed by scavengers, who steal manhole covers, pedestrian bridge railings, streetlight cables, and other vital road fixtures, causing significant setbacks to the state’s infrastructural development.

Supported by a majority of lawmakers, the motion stressed the need for urgent intervention to prevent further damage and ensure public safety.

The Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, presided over the session where the House called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, to enforce the Environmental Management Protection Law of 2017.

Additionally, the Assembly urged the government to replace all missing manhole covers immediately to safeguard Lagos residents and maintain the state’s infrastructure.