The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FCT command, has instructed its personnel to protect road reflective studs, railings, street lights, and manhole covers.

Olusola Odumosu, the FCT commandant,  gave the charge in an interview in Abuja on Sunday.

Mr Odumosu also charged the personnel with ensuring adequate protection of the facilities of all ongoing and completed projects in the territory and national critical infrastructure.

According to him, it is paramount to protect street lights, amenities of the newly constructed roads and bridges, Abuja metro line rail tracks and other critical infrastructure.

He clarified that the directive does not exempt the coverage of existing roads and projects in the territory.

Mr Odumosu said the yet-to-be-inaugurated projects should receive priority attention because of their new components.

“We have activated surveillance patrols in the FCT, especially in the city centre, and we will not take it lightly with anyone caught vandalising public properties.

“Most of the manholes and street lights in the territory have been vandalised, and these new ones might be the next target for these criminals.

“The corps have put in place several measures to tackle this menace and have succeeded in the arrest and prosecutions of some suspected vandals and we are stopping or slowing-down now,” he said.

Mr Odumosu called on well-meaning Nigerians to serve as security agencies’ eyes and ears, urging residents to say something when they see something.

He reiterated that the corps, being the lead agency in protecting critical national assets, would not relent in ensuring that the present government’s efforts were not wasted.

FCT minister Nyesom Wike had said President Bola Tinubu would inaugurate the various new projects in the territory between May 27 and June 6.

(NAN)