BY RITA OYIBOKA
THE President-General, Okpanam Youth Organisation, Lucky Okolo has decried the continued destruction of public infrastructure by individuals and reckless contractors in the community.
He made this known, yesterday, following an incident involving excavation work that resulted in a blocked drainage system and damaged road along Ntoka Road, Obodogba Quarters, Okpanam, Delta State.
In a phone conversation with The Pointer, Comr. Okolo noted that his team had swiftly intervened after receiving information about the ongoing activity.
“The members of the excavation crew have been dumping sand on the road and into the drainage system during their work, claiming it was part of the excavation,” he said.
According to him, the excavation, believed to be connected to a land development project in the area, not only damaged the road but also blocked a key drainage channel constructed by the state government. “Directly or indirectly, they’ve destroyed government property,” he added.
The youth organisation, upon arriving at the site, halted the operation and mandated the workers to remove the dumped sand immediately. Comr. Okolo revealed that they have been taken to the police station to make a formal statement and commit in writing to repairing the damage done.
“The reason we took the matter to the police station is to make them commit, to make a formal promise that they will repair the road. Until they do that, we won’t let the company go,” he said
Okolo expressed concern over what he described as a disturbing trend of disregard for public property and community authority. “They are acting like no one is watching, or like they don’t recognise any authority. This is exactly the kind of situation we’ve been facing.”
Citing a related case, he lamented the total vandalism of facilities at Mgbala Primary School by unknown individuals, noting that nothing has been left intact.
“Now that the government is starting to pay attention to Okpanam, someone will just wake up and begin destroying government property. We’re here to protect government assets,” he said.
