Poverty is driving theft and vandalism of public assets, but the major culprit is the lack of enforcement of existing laws.
Public assets such as manhole covers, fire hydrant covers, telecommunication duct covers, flexible cables, transformers, streetlight pole covers, rail tracks and electrical installations are constantly stolen, leading to financial losses for the government.
Critical assets such as streetlights and healthcare facilities are also targeted, deepening the sense of insecurity and institutional decay.
About N300 million was allocated in the 2022 FCT budget to replace vandalised rail tracks, while N3 billion was spent to replace stolen manhole covers and telecommunication duct covers, highlighting the impact of weak laws and poor enforcement mechanisms.
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) reported a staggering $10 billion loss due to crude oil theft, vandalism and sabotage in the last seven months. These losses reflect the broader implications of infrastructure theft on Nigeria’s economic stability.
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Abdul Gobir, a legal practitioner with A.S. Gobir & Co, told BusinessDay that while laws like the Penal Code provide sufficient frameworks to address vandalism and theft, weak enforcement and prosecutorial lapses hinder their effectiveness.
Section 286 of the Penal Code prescribes a minimum of five-year sentence for theft, while Section 322 mandates life imprisonment or lesser penalties for vandalism and causing public infrastructure damage. However, Gobir noted that offenders are often charged under lesser provisions of the law, resulting in lenient penalties.
“If prosecutors fail to present adequate evidence or choose to file charges under weaker legal provisions, judges are limited in their sentencing options,” Gobir explained.
He criticised law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), for targeting petty offenders while neglecting the larger criminal networks fueling the theft of public property.
“Those stealing manholes and cables are just the foot soldiers. The real culprits are the buyers and middlemen driving this black-market economy. Investigations should prioritise dismantling these networks,” he noted.
The expert said judges are bound to deliver judgments strictly on the evidence and charges presented by prosecutors, rather than the speculated laws.
Security agencies’ action
In a chat, Olusola Odumosu, FCT commandant of the NSCDC, told BusinessDay that over 300 individuals have been arrested in connection with the theft of public infrastructure in the last two years. However, the arrests were not sufficient to curb the menace, fuelled by a robust underground market for stolen goods.
Expressing frustration at the ineffective legal response to the growing crime, he said the NSCDC has conducted several raids and recovered stolen items, but insufficient penalties allow repeat offenders to continue their activities.
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According to him, “Offenders are often given minimal sentences such as community service or fines as low as N2,000 that have little deterrent effect.
“Until we impose harsher penalties—such as 10 to 21 years in prison—this problem will persist. These criminals are emboldened by the weak judicial system.”
He noted, “It is a revolving door. The absence of strong laws means criminals know that they can get away with these offenses.”
Odumosu called for a comprehensive review of the country’s laws to include stiffer penalties such as longer prison terms.
He also blamed a booming black market for stolen public assets, which has created a thriving environment for criminals, complicating the efforts of law enforcement officers.
“The presence of a ready market, like the Pantaker market, where stolen items such as armoured cables and manhole covers are sold, worsens the situation,” Odumosu stated.
Olatunji Disu, FCT Commissioner of police, also corroborated Odumosu’s views, calling for stricter penalties
“Many of these criminals are fined as little as N2,000 or given 24 strokes of the cane. This does nothing to deter them. Going forward, we will charge them with economic sabotage and in severe cases, attempted murder or murder.
“These acts are enough to kill residents of the Federal Capital Territory. Imagine driving at night and falling into an open manhole. This is not just about infrastructure, it is also about lives.”
He urged citizens to see public infrastructure as shared property and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
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Rural residents lament theft
Communities such as Pegi in Kuje Area Council are reeling from the consequences of infrastructural theft. In 2021 and 2022, the local healthcare center was targeted and valuable equipment and materials were stolen.
Taiwo Aderibigbe, former chairman of Pegi Community Ethics Development Association, told BusinessDay that authorities refused to act on a filed report detailing the incident.
“No follow-up action was taken. The promises made by the former minister of state for the FCT were mere political statements,” Aderibigbe told BusinessDay, noting that the loss of the healthcare center has left 17,000 residents vulnerable, as they have no access to vital medical services.
“The proximity of Kuje General Hospital and healthcare centers in Kuje town is about five to 10 kilometers away. This makes it difficult for pregnant women, children and the elderly to access medical care.”
Corroborating Aderibigbe, Oyedeji Oyetunji, vice chairman of Peggi Community, shared his frustration over the theft and destruction of crucial public facilities.
“Government built a healthcare center and installed streetlights, but they have been destroyed by vandals. Scavengers stole the streetlights at night and the healthcare facility was severely damaged. The generator, medical equipment and supplies were taken,” Oyetunji explained.
Consequences, experts’ opinions
Nyesom Wike, FCT minister, has vowed that those stealing public properties will be prosecuted. The FCDA has also banned scavengers from operating in Abuja.
However, concerns remain over the difficulties of prosecuting these offenders considering the existing weak legal framework and inefficient judicial process.
Hyp Ogoli-Egbune, a lawyer, explained that the root cause of the rampant vandalism lies not in the absence of laws but in the failure to implement them effectively
“It is not about having more laws but applying them with consequences,” he said.
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Ogoli-Egbune, a public affairs analyst, emphasised that the absence of real sanctions allows vandals to operate with impunity, emboldening them to target vital public infrastructure without fear of serious repercussions.
This lawlessness, she argued, stems from a deeper societal issue where citizens lack a sense of ownership and responsibility toward public assets.
“People don’t see government infrastructure as their own. When they vandalise these assets, they don’t feel guilty because they believe the government is distant and does not represent them,” she said.
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