The Rivers State House of Assembly has expressed worry over the stealing of over 125 manhole covers by suspected vandals in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of the state.
Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on Manhole Theft, Victor Jumbo, disclosed this when he led members of the committee on an on-the-spot assessment of the extent of vandalism of government facilities in different parts of the state.
Jumbo suggested that concretes should be used instead of steel covers for the manholes to make it difficult for hoodlums to cart them away.
He stated, ” These people remove both the wire mesh electricity poles that hold the street lights.
“The manholes from Rumuola to Obiri-Kwere to Igwurita, to the airport, down to Eneka and to the Eleme Bridge off oil mill have been removed. In fact, at a point, we counted on just one road 125 manholes.
“I am recommending that we should begin to use concrete as manhole covers so that it makes it less lucrative”.
Meanwhile, the 32-member legislature came up with recommendations to serve as a penalty for offenders.
The recommendations include amending the principle law of 2012, to write to Governor Siminilayi Fubara to constitute the Public Utilities Protection Committee as enshrined in the Rivers State Public Works and Protection Law 2012.
The committee also recommended the setting up of a task force for the protection of public utilities in collaboration with community development committees and youth groups in all LGAs of the state.
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