Menace of vandalism in Nigeria

 

Last Saturday, August 8, 2026, I was a guest on the breakfast show of the Silverbird Television to discuss the menace of vandalism in Nigeria. What prompted this discussion was the recent news report that vandals have descended on the link flyover between Alakija and FESTAC Town  Area of Lagos State. The state’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab stated that investigations showed that the suspects allegedly removed iron rods, steel reinforcements, cables and other materials critical to the bridge’s structural integrity. According to the commissioner, 27 hoodlums suspected to have committed the crime have been arrested during a joint overnight operation involving operatives of the Rapid Response Squad and the Kick Against Indiscipline task force.

It is noteworthy that this is not an isolated event. All over the country, acts of vandalism are being perpetrated by scoundrels and undesirable elements. Manholes are underground access points used for drainage, sewage, and utility systems, typically covered with heavy metal or concrete lids. When left uncovered, they can become deep and dangerous pits capable of causing severe injuries or death. For sometime now, the Federal Capital Territory has been in the throes of unprecedented theft of these manhole covers. The theft of heavy metal manhole covers on Abuja roads creates deep, dangerous holes on highways and walkways. This vandalism damages vehicles, causes traffic accidents, and threatens the lives of pedestrians and children, especially when hidden by floodwaters during rain.

Joint security forces consisting of Police, Nigerian Army, Civil Defence and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board. recovered 125 of these stolen manhole covers and other public infrastructure during intelligence-led raids at the Dei-Dei Pantaker scrap market in 2025. Other items found during the raid include vandalised solar street lights, armored cables, transformer components, and electrical parts. Activities of informal scavengers (locally called Baban Bola) remain strictly outlawed across the Federal Capital Territory. Arrested suspects have been charged to court for criminal conspiracy and vandalism.

In May 2026, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps  arrested 13 suspected railway vandals and impounded five trucks carrying stolen rail materials and sleepers valued at ₦800 million. The suspects were apprehended in Kaduna State by the Commandant General's Special Intelligence Squad and paraded in Abuja. Arrests took place in Manchock (Kaura LGA), Zonkwa (Zango Kataf LGA), and Kafanchan (Jama'a LGA) in Kaduna State.

Daily Trust of Monday, August 10, 2026 reported that “As Nigerians continue to grapple with inadequate supply of electricity from the national grid, activities of vandals are truncating efforts in expanding grid connections and ensuring stable supply, Analysis by Daily Trust indicated that at least 20 towers have been vandalised from January to August 2026 with four suspects arrested and 1 death recorded.” The Nigerian Independent System Operator stated the electricity market is losing N8 billion to transmission loss monthly and vandalism is contributing significantly to it. The inability to end vandalism means the Transmission Company of Nigeria is diverting funds for critical grid development into repairs of towers that are functioning but stopped by the greed of individuals seeking cheap money from destroying existing towers.

According to the TCN, the latest act of vandalism is the collapse of a transmission tower along the 330kV Ughelli-Benin transmission line in Delta State on August 8, 2026. On July 29, the Nigerian Police arrested a suspect over vandalism of six towers along Yola–Jalingo 330kV transmission line. Another six transmission towers, from T125 to T130, on Apir–Lafia 330kV Transmission Lines I and II were also vandalised on May 30, fording both Apir–Lafia 330kV Transmission Lines I and II remain out of service pending reconstruction of the affected towers. Recall that the entire Bayelsa State experienced a major blackout lasting about four months (from late July to late November 2024) after vandals destroyed multiple transmission towers and lines along the Ahoada-Yenagoa corridor.

Recently, it was reported that security forces and the Federal Government have raised alarms and made arrests regarding vandals digging up and destroying parts of the newly constructed Abuja–Kaduna–Kano highway corridor to steal vital steel and iron reinforcing rods. These destructive acts—often tied to scavenging networks targeting public infrastructure—pose severe safety risks and threaten major national development projects.

In another development, the multi-billion Second Niger Bridge has faced incidents of vandalism where criminals removed metal expansion joints, railings and other components designed to absorb thermal movements on the bridge.  Maintenance teams quickly replaced the stolen and damaged parts. Authorities engaged security agencies and private guards to increase surveillance and prevent future theft on the bridge.

Across the country, street lights, electricity transformers, electricity cables and several other public infrastructures are being routinely vandalised. It has reached an epidemic proportion and government at all levels need to rise up to the occasion. Vandalism is an economic crime as it leads to huge financial losses on the part of government, community, organisation or individual victims. It also raises public health and safety concerns. A vandalised rail line can cause train derailment which can lead to death or permanent disability. Driving into an uncovered manhole can cause motor accident which can lead to fatalities. A collapsed bridge as a result of vandalism of its critical parts can also lead to accidents and deaths.

I am of the considered view that government at the national and sub-national levels need to step up awareness creation on dangers of vandalism. National Orientation Agency with its nationwide structure and expertise on civic education should be saddled with this responsibility alongside federal and state ministries of information. However, these agencies need to be well resourced.  NOA, due to paucity of funds, hasn’t been able to perform optimally. It is also high time surveillance cameras or close circuit television cameras better known as CCCTV are mounted on our critical national infrastructures in order to provide real time monitoring. Scrap market operators who buy these stolen items from the vandals should be arrested and prosecuted in courts.  Nigeria Civil Defence who has the mandate to protect critical national assets need to deploy more of its personnel to do this job. Peradventure, there is a need to retool our law to deal with this ugly phenomenon to ensure that adequate punishments are meted to the vandals.

I.G: @jideojong