The Lagos State House of Assembly is pushing for enhanced community-level security and more rigorous legal consequences for those who damage public assets. During a recent plenary session, legislators urged the state government to better equip the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps to improve monitoring and protect essential infrastructure like roads and bridges.
Lawmakers emphasized that legal action should not be limited to the perpetrators who steal materials, but must also target the businesses and individuals that trade in stolen government property. This initiative stems from a motion introduced by Moshood Aro, representing Ikorodu II, who highlighted the rising destruction of public works, particularly in FESTAC. Aro pointed out that constant repairs create an unnecessary financial burden on taxpayers, as the government is repeatedly forced to spend public funds on replacements.
To combat this, the assembly suggested closer monitoring of the scrap trade to eliminate the demand for stolen goods. Aro and other members argued that suspects must face full prosecution rather than being released, noting that the state needs a comprehensive strategy involving better intelligence, community cooperation, and enforcement.
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa supported these measures, advocating for improved resource allocation to local security bodies. He also called on state agencies to strictly enforce existing regulations. Other assembly members, including Lawal Olumegbon and Stephen Ogundipe, echoed these concerns, stressing that vandalism is a widespread issue that requires unified action across all local government areas in the state.
