The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) has announced the arrest of a prominent expatriate contractor accused of vandalising streetlights in the territory.
AMMC Coordinator Mr. Felix Obuah revealed this development on Tuesday, October 29, following an inspection of ongoing streetlight repairs and maintenance. He stated that the contractor engaged in vandalism to secure contracts for repairs.
While Obuah did not disclose the contractor's name, he noted that the company involved is well-known and emphasized that the suspect would face severe legal consequences.
"The Minister of FCT has given us clear orders to ensure that Abuja is well-lit," Obuah said. "Today, I conducted a spot assessment with my team to ensure everything is functioning properly."
He explained that Abuja is divided into 21 sectors, and during the inspection, nearly 18 of these areas were found to have been vandalised, with some undergoing repairs by his team.
Obuah expressed dissatisfaction with the extent of the vandalism but commended his team for their efforts, particularly in restoring lights along Yar’adua Way and in the Jabi area. He stressed the need for swift action to restore all affected streetlights.
The AMMC Coordinator noted that initial assumptions pointed to scavengers or miscreants as the culprits, but the investigation revealed that high-level contractors were also involved in undermining the government’s efforts.
"We have arrested a prominent expatriate contractor involved in vandalising these streetlights to secure contracts. There is ample evidence against him," Obuah confirmed.
He assured that a report would be submitted to the Minister, stating, "We must ensure that those responsible for vandalism and those purchasing the stolen items do not go unpunished. We cannot continue installing new lights while these individuals sabotage government efforts.