Lagos Assembly Raises the Alarm over Scavengers, Asks Governor to Curb Menace

Segun James

The Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, has asked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reactivate relevant laws to arrest the illegal scavenging activities, which have continued to rise across the nation.

The assembly passed the resolution following a motion moved by Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa II), noting that violators involved in the theft and vandalism of manhole covers and other public infrastructure should face the full wrath of the law.

The House “notes the relentless efforts of Lagos State Government in providing critical social infrastructure aimed at fulfilling electoral promises, delivering the dividends of democracy, and improving the welfare of its citizenry.

“Further notes that this House has enacted various laws, including the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Ch. C17, 2015 and Environmental Management Protection Law, 2017, to protect and maintain the infrastructure provided by the government across the State;

“Observes that this infrastructure, including the construction of roads with underground ducts, iron-cast manhole covers and bridges with steel safety rails amongst others are designed to enhance the quality of life for residents by providing safety for road users and reducing traffic congestion on highways.”

The assembly added that it also meant “preventing the loss of productive man-hours, drainage systems to prevent flooding and improving the overall road network system in the state.

“The House is concerned about the growing menace of scavengers and criminally minded individuals who, through their activities, vandalise and steal critical infrastructure such as manhole covers, pedestrian bridge railings, streetlight cables, and other essential road furniture.

“And is disturbed that if this trend is not swiftly curtailed, issues such as destruction of critical road infrastructure, increase in road accidents due to open manholes and damaged railings, blocked drainage systems, leading to flooding, would bring significant setback in the State’s infrastructural development efforts put in place by the Government.”

The assembly, therefore, called on the governor to direct the Commissioner, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab to “enforce the provisions of the Environmental Management Protection Law, 2017 to ensure that appropriate sanctions are applied against scavenging-related violations and unauthorized chart pushing.”