from EMEKA OKONKWO in Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria Bureau
ABUJA, (CAJ News) – NIGERIAN authorities are intensifying the enforcement of a ban on scavenging in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) amid a rise in cable theft and vandalism.
The crackdown follows the arrest of 15 suspects in connection with these criminalities.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested the suspects in the capital Abuja.
“We are resolute in enforcing this ban and safeguarding public infrastructure in the FCT. This will be sustained till we achieve sanity in the territory,” Olusola Odumosu, NSCDC Commandant for FCT, vowed.
The ban on scavenging in the FCT, the seat of government of the Nigerian government, was effected in 2018.
Scavenging is the search for and collection of anything usable from discarded waste but scavengers have a reputation of pulling down working infrastructure and stripping it.
“We are going to take more robust measures to address this menace in the FCT once and for all,” Odumosu said.
Cable theft and vandalism are major issues in Nigeria, Africa’s largest nation and biggest economy.
The country reportedly loses around US$200 million per year to these issues.
– CAJ News