The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has charged traditional rulers and community leaders to be vigilant and take collective responsibility in the protection of public infrastructure across the Niger Delta region.
Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Forum on Public Infrastructure and Vandalism Prevention in Port Harcourt, NDDC Managing Director Dr Samuel Ogbuku said that while the government has a duty to provide basic amenities, communities are responsible for protecting them.
Ogbuku, represented by the Director, Administration and Human Resources, Sir Kelechi Nwelue, noted that destroying public infrastructure harms communities and individuals, not just the government.
He said: “The aim of the government is to focus on infrastructure, but after building, how do we protect it?
“Where public infrastructure is vandalised, money meant for new projects is diverted to repair what has been built, thus limiting infrastructure progress. Security is an important factor in society. Development strengthens security and security protects development.”
Ogbuku advised community leaders not to see development in their area as government property but as their own, and that everyone must protect it against vandalism, theft, and destruction.
“There is a need to create awareness and educate citizens that projects executed by the government are the property of the community, and they should protect it. We should move to building a culture where vandalism becomes socially unacceptable,” he said.
Ogbuku urged residents, community leaders, youth groups, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to take ownership of public infrastructure within their communities and promptly report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
He further emphasised the importance of community participation in preventing vandalism of roads, bridges, electricity facilities, water projects, schools, health centres, and other development infrastructure.
The NDDC Director, Community and Rural Development, Engr. Theophilus Alagoa, lamented that vandals were destroying government facilities in communities and that no one was taking responsibility. He stated, “This event was organised to inform and educate everyone that government projects are our property and it is imperative to take care of the investment.”
Alagoa warned that vandalising, destroying, or stealing government projects was a serious crime and an act of economic sabotage. He stated, “We need to protect government projects in our communities and not steal or destroy them.”
Alagoa further stated that vandalism, theft and deliberate destruction of public facilities posed serious threats to sustainable development, noting: “Such acts not only result in loss of valuable public resources but also undermine the delivery of essential services and increase the cost of maintaining and replacing infrastructure.”
The event facilitator, Mr Ibiyekaribo Inko-Tariah, urged the participants to propose solutions to vandalism, theft, and destruction of government projects in communities. He said the programme was organised as part of efforts to safeguard government-funded projects and ensure critical infrastructure continued to serve communities
