Wike pledges harsh punishment for manhole vandals including buyers

BUSINESS DAY

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has pledged that individuals arrested by security agencies for allegedly stealing sewage manhole covers on Abuja highways will face the full force of the law.

Wike, in a statement issued Lere Olayinka, his senior special assistant (public communications and new media) on Monday in Abuja, emphasised that strict punishment will serve as a deterrent to others engaging in imilar acts.

The minister also assured that the government will ensure that all buyers and users of the vandalised manhole covers and other vandalised public infrastructures will be apprehended and prosecuted for economic sabotage and putting the lives of Nigerians at risk.

He said the arrest of no fewer than 50 suspects for vandalism and theft of manhole covers within the FCT, noting that the recovery of 25 vandalised manhole covers is a demonstration of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)’s zero tolerance for criminalities, particularly vandalisation of public amenities.