Image of a Vandalised pipeline
Photo: Jimidisu.com
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called to protect public infrastructure across the country instead of destroying them at the slightest provocation.
Many public infrastructure had been destroyed in recent times due to some perceived ill-treatment from governments or public servants.
The Director-General of NOA, Dr Garba Abari made the call at a stakeholders Dialogue on Change Begins with Me: Campaign against destruction of Public Assets and Critical Infrastructure in Abuja.
Dr Abari maintained that Governments spent huge amount of resources to build public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, hydroelectric power stations, rail tracks amongst many other critical infrastructures, hence the need for Nigerians to take ownership of these projects and protect them.
According to him, these infrastructures were built to make life easier for the citizens but most of these assets have been subjected to vandalism by aggrieved Nigerians particularly the youths.
”This can be attributed to a host of factors including ignorance, misdirected anger and frustration against governments perceived marginalisation, violent protests, unemployment, lack of patriotism towards one’s country amongst other reasons.” He said
Represented by the Director, Public Enlightenment and Mass Mobilisation, Mrs Theresa Madueke, the NOA Director General stressed the need for Nigerians to have attitudinal change towards government infrastructure.
”The acts of vandalism, like other vices, is an attitudinal problem. This implies that no amount of resources or effort can redress the menace unless there is positive behavioral change towards public infrastructure at individual, community and institutional levels”. He added
Similarly, the Executive Secretary, Gwagwalada Area Council in the FCT, Muhammad Sabar, commended NOA for the initiative and called on Nigerians particularly those at the grassroots to channel their grievances to the government instead of resorting to destroying public infrastructure.
Reporting by Oluwaseyi Ajibade