The Lagos State government has urged residents to come forward with information about suspected vandals targeting the state’s infrastructure, including roads and bridges.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, made the appeal during an inspection tour of the Odo Iya Alaro Bridge in Kosofe Local Government Area, emphasizing the need for community involvement in protecting public assets.
“Every time we fix bridges, they vandalise them; people are not taking responsibility for whatever the government has done to make life easy for motorists. So I will like to appeal to residents that if you see something, say something. It’s all about you; it is for you to be able to be comfortable while driving and to get to wherever you are going faster.
“So all of the people vandalising the bolts and joints, the law will come after them. When you see anybody trying to destroy here or wherever, please talk. As good citizens, you can call for the arrest of such individuals. We understand the pain that the people of this area are going through. As soon as it is fixed, the pain will ease. It is just temporary,” he said.
Mr Omotosho explained that the tour was part of the state’s policy to monitor and ensure bridge maintenance and management, as well as global quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC).
Earlier, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, appealed to residents of the area to exercise patience on the rehabilitation work on the bridge.
Mr Daramola described the Sanwo-Olu-led administration as a “responsive government.”
“The Lagos State government will continue its routine maintenance work on pedestrian and vehicular bridges in the state. There are several bridges where the expansion joints are bad and need to be replaced to avoid further deterioration.
“I urge all residents and road users to support the contractors on site to ensure timely delivery of the maintenance works,” he said.
According to him, the state government is not unmindful of the inconvenience the maintenance works are causing.
The special adviser also appealed for patience and cooperation from the motoring public.
“The asphaltic work and the replacement of the joints have been scheduled for completion in about 90 days. There are several other bridges where the expansion joints are bad and need to be replaced to avoid further deterioration,” he added.
He assured residents that the state government, through the Ministry of Transportation, would ensure that all repair works would not negatively impact vehicular movement.
