FG Condemns Vandalism of Concrete-Cast Bridge Rails in Lagos
- Dec 31, 2025
- 2 min read
The Federal Ministry of Works has strongly condemned the persistent vandalism of bridge rails across Lagos State, expressing concern that despite deliberate efforts to protect public infrastructure by casting iron bridge rails in concrete, criminal elements have continued to destroy the structures, posing serious safety risks to road users and undermining government investments aimed at preserving vital transport assets.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on the recurring damage to bridge rails, noting that the situation remains troubling despite previous preventive measures taken by the ministry.
Dare said the ministry was alarmed that hoodlums were now deliberately breaking the reinforced concrete rails to access and remove the iron rods embedded within them, describing the act as deliberate sabotage of public infrastructure meant to safeguard lives.
According to him, the ministry would again formally write to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant security agencies to intensify surveillance and monitoring of bridges across the state, adding that some suspects had recently been arrested and handed over to the ministry alongside the recovered stolen materials.
He urged Nigerians to see public infrastructure as collective property that must be protected, stressing that such facilities are provided for the benefit and safety of all citizens and should be treated with the same care as personal assets.
“These facilities belong to all of us, and damaging them puts lives at risk. Nigerians must take ownership of public infrastructure and protect it as they would their personal property,” Dare said.
“We are appealing to members of the public to be vigilant and promptly report anyone found vandalising bridges or other public assets to the appropriate security agencies,” he added.
Reacting to the development, the President of the Association of Scrap and Waste Pickers, Lagos State chapter, Friday Oku, said the association strongly condemns vandalism in all its forms, while urging the government to formalise the scrap and waste-picking sector through proper regulation, including the creation of a comprehensive database and the issuance of identity cards to genuine operators.
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