The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has declared that individuals caught vandalising public infrastructure will face charges of murder and economic sabotage, a significant step towards combating rising acts of vandalism in the FCT.
The decision was made at the first FCT Security Council meeting of 2025, convened by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
The FCT Police Commissioner, Olatunji Disu, spoke to journalists after the meeting about the necessity for harsher penalties, citing that current punishments were insufficient in deterring criminal behaviour.
“Many of these offenders are fined a mere ₦2,000 or receive 24 lashes, which does little to stop them. Moving forward, we will charge them with economic sabotage, and in severe cases, attempted murder or murder,” he stated.
CP Disu explained the dangers associated with vandalism, particularly the removal of manhole covers, which can lead to tragic accidents.
“These actions pose a lethal threat to residents of the Federal Capital Territory. Picture driving at night and suddenly falling into an open manhole. This issue transcends infrastructure; it endangers lives,” he warned.
He encouraged the public to treat infrastructure as a communal resource and report any suspicious activities. “If you observe anything unusual, speak up. Let us work together to safeguard what belongs to all of us,” he urged.
The council also announced a two-week suspension of operations for scrap metal dealers, known as Pantekas in local parlance, to allow for proper profiling of operators and to ensure that only legitimate businesses operate in the area.
It said scavenging activities will be limited to designated dump sites outside the city center and suburbs.
“Starting tomorrow, we are halting Panteka operations for two weeks for thorough profiling. Scavengers must now confine their activities to designated dump sites and are prohibited from working in the city center or residential zones,” CP Disu added.
Regarding the ongoing threat of “one chance” robberies, Commissioner Disu reported that significant progress was made in 2024, with the recovery of 21 vehicles used by the criminals.
“Many of these vehicles were tinted, complicating rescue efforts for victims. We will maintain intelligence-driven patrols and strategies that successfully reduced these crimes last year,” he explained,
He added that such criminal activities are treated under the law as armed robbery and, in some instances, kidnapping.
Responding to questions about the recent bomb blast at an Islamiyya School in Bwari Area Council, CP Disu assured the public that investigations were underway.
“We are fully committed to resolving this incident, and I will share updates on our findings when appropriate,” he stated.
The FCTA’s firm stance on vandalism, stricter regulations for scrap metal dealers and scavengers, and its commitment to combating robbery reflected a strong commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all FCT residents in 2025.