Only recently, the Anambra state government put out a statement condemning the wanton damage, neglect, misuse and looting of public infrastructure sited in our various communities. The statement, signed by the commissioner for Public Utilities, Engineer Emeka Ezenwanne, mandates all Presidents-General and Ndi Igwe, to reinvigorate the vigilante and other security operatives in their communities, with a view to arresting the ugly trend.

According to the statement, most of the infrastructure that suffer this fate are electric transformers, poles, street lights, solar panels, water bore holes, traffic lights, and road infrastructure. Also, schools, civic centres and market places are not spared of the cannibalization and stealing, as cases of missing ceiling fans, roofing materials, cables, computer systems, laboratory facilities, among other valuable office equipment are very rampant today.

It is disheartening that some members of the society, willingly or out of carelessness, encourage the astronomic rate of decay and disappearance of facilities made available to us for our well-being. When the Willie Obiano administration came to power in 2014, one of the significant milestones it attained was the paradigm shift in development, whereby the one hundred and eighty-one communities in the state began to get twenty million naira each, on yearly basis, for their Community Choose Your Project Initiative.

This well laid out pattern of development yielded positive result as it orchestrated even development of the rural, urban and semi urban areas of the state, simultaneously. The money accounted for the springing up of secondary schools, civic centres, water bore holes, market expansion and modernization, in remotest parts of the state where they were nonexistent before.

The public infrastructure that has made life easier and more enjoyable for the generality of the people are now being threatened by mindless looters and attackers. Should we allow it to stand? The answer is an obvious no.

Furthermore, the Obiano administration established the Anambra state Community and Social Development Agency. Through this platform, government engaged and partnered with various communities in the state, and put up rural road infrastructure, culverts and bridges, water and electricity reticulation facilities, among others.

These projects, which the people are happy with and are getting used to, for upping their living condition, are now being threatened by pilfering, abuse, misuse and willful damage. One can hear the people rising up in unison to say a resounding no to this attempt at taking them back to Egypt.

However, it is one thing to unanimously agree that removal of government property is wrong, and another to rise up in practical terms to fight the cankerworm. Now is the time to show appreciation to government for their thoughtfulness in opening up the rural areas, by owning up the facilities sited in our various communities.

Once people demonstrate ownership by probing certain activities of youths and acting as checks on the never do wells in their locality, these projects will serve out this present generation and even the ones to come.

Our Presidents-General and traditional rulers should rejig, retool and re-strategize the vigilante to serve them more along this line. Also, community leaders should liaise with the regular Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other para-military organs, with a view to nipping in the bud attempts by vagabonds, and other criminals who deny the people of the immense benefits of these projects.

Leaders of the land should equally resuscitate the age long ”akwukwo nwa nnunu” informants, who could confidentially report to town union authorities those found to have been engaging in such criminality. This way the bad eggs would be fished out and punished publicly, as a deterrent to others.

As the Obiano government strives to finish strong and hand over to Professor Chukwuma Soludo on March 17, next year, all stakeholders must join in the vanguard for safety of the litany of projects government made available for better lives of the people.

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