The arrest of a foreign contractor who is said to be engaged in the vandalization of street lights in Abuja, has been announced by the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC).
According to the AMMC Coordinator, Felix Obuah, the contractor damages the existing streetlights in order to get fresh contracts.
Obuah made the disclosure on Tuesday after inspecting some ongoing streetlight repairs and maintenance as directed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The AMMC Coordinator, who refused to name the contractor, however, said the company operated by the contractor was well known, and the individual would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He explained that there was a belief that the vandalization was been carried out by scavengers, but they were shocked to discover the involvement of the contractor.
The coordinator explained that Abuja streetlights are divided into 21 lots, with 18 lots inspected so far and the vandalized portions undergoing repair works.
He said a report would be submitted to the FCT Minister, and further action would be taken on the matter, adding that all those involved would be brought to justice.
Obuah said, “The minister of FCT has given us matching orders to make sure that Abuja is lightened up, and as a matter of fact, I embark on the spot assesment with my team to make sure things work well.
“Abuja is divided into 21 lots, today will inspected almost 18 lots. We have discovered that most of those areas have been vandalised, which some are undergoing intervention work by my team.
“We are not impressed with the level of vandalisation that had happened in some of those lots. But I am impressed with my team for living up to expectations especially with the ongoing maintenance work on Yar’adua way and Jabi areas, the light has been restored but some are yet to be restored.
“We will make sure that within a short possible time, the issues is restored. Most a times we thought is scavengers or miscreants that are involved in vandalising the streetlights, not until today that we are able to discover that high level contractors are involved in sabotaging the good efforts of the minister and AMMC.
“We have arrested a very prominent contractor, an expatriate who is involved in vandalising these streetlights to enable them get this contract.One of the expatriates has been arrested and is in detention, there are full evidence to that effect.
“Our report will be submitted to the minister. we must make sure that those vandals and the people buying the items would not go free.
“We can’t be buying and installing while miscreants and expatriates are vandalising it, sabotaging the good efforts of government is wrong.”