Photo Caption: The NDDC Director, Administration and Human Resources, Sir Kelechi Nwelue and the Director, Community and Rural Development, Engr. Theophilus Alagoa (middle), surrounded by traditional rulers and stakeholders, during the Stakeholders’ Forum on Public Infrastructure and Vandalism Prevention in Port Harcourt.
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has urged traditional rulers and community leaders in the Niger Delta to be vigilant and take ownership of public infrastructure in their domains to prevent vandalism.
The charge was given at a Stakeholders' Forum on Public Infrastructure and Vandalism Prevention organised by the Commission in Port Harcourt.
In his address, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who was represented by the Director, Administration and Human Resources, Sir Kelechi Nwelue, said government has a responsibility to provide basic amenities, but communities have a duty to protect them.
Dr. Ogbuku explained that destroying public infrastructure hurts the community more than the government, as funds meant for new projects are diverted to rehabilitate vandalised ones.
"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," he said.
He advised community leaders, youth groups and residents not to see development projects as government property but as community property that must be protected against theft, vandalism 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," Ogbuku stated.
He called on all stakeholders to take ownership of roads, bridges, electricity facilities, water projects, schools, health centres and other infrastructure, and to report suspicious activities to appropriate authorities.
Also speaking, the Director, Community and Rural Development, Engr. Theophilus Alagoa, lamented that vandals were destroying government facilities while communities look on without taking responsibility.
"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. We need to protect government projects in our communities and not steal or destroy them," Alagoa said.
Alagoa warned that vandalism, theft and deliberate destruction of public facilities constitute economic sabotage, lead to loss of valuable public resources, undermine essential services and increase the cost of maintaining infrastructure.
The facilitator of the forum, Mr. Ibiyekaribo Inko-Tariah, urged participants to propose community-based solutions to curb the menace.
Confirming the essence of the forum in a statement on Saturday, the Director of Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, said the engagement was part of the Commission's strategic effort to safeguard government-funded projects and ensure they continue to serve the people.
According to Thompson-Wakama, "The Commission is committed to ensuring that critical infrastructure delivered to communities is protected and sustained. That is why we are engaging directly with stakeholders to make ownership and protection of these projects a collective responsibility."
The forum ended with a resolution by participants to strengthen community vigilance and collaboration with security agencies to protect public assets.
