Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed plans by the state government to forward a bill to the House of Assembly seeking stiffer penalties for vandals of public infrastructure, particularly electricity facilities, across the state.
Abiodun made this known while hosting the Chairman of SIFAX Group, Taiwo Afolabi, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Deolu Ijose, at Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
The governor expressed concern over the increasing destruction of electricity infrastructure, describing the trend as a major threat to economic growth and service delivery in the state.
He lamented that several public assets, including streetlights installed along the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway from the Interchange, had been vandalised by suspected criminals.
According to him, the activities of vandals had continued to frustrate efforts aimed at improving electricity supply and enhancing socio-economic development.
Abiodun described the destruction of electricity infrastructure as economic sabotage and energy theft, warning that perpetrators would face severe legal consequences when apprehended.
He said, “Yes, we know that vandalisation is an issue. When we constructed the Sagamu-Abeokuta Road, we installed streetlights along the entire 42-kilometre stretch. Within one and a half years, every one of those streetlights had been stolen.
“They first started by stealing the cables, cutting them, tying them to vehicles and pulling them out, before moving on to the fittings.
“One day, while returning from Lagos, I noticed that after driving for about a kilometre, there was no single light pole again. From cables to fittings and eventually the poles themselves, the destruction continued.
“Vandalisation is a serious issue, and I believe we must now put stronger legislation in place. I have spoken with the Attorney General on the need for stricter laws and stiffer penalties that will serve as a deterrent because this is economic sabotage.”
The governor stated that the proposed legislation, being coordinated through the Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, would strengthen the legal framework for prosecuting offenders and discourage further destruction of public infrastructure.
Abiodun also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving electricity supply through strategic partnerships aimed at addressing unstable power supply in the state.
He explained that the meeting with the IBEDC management was centred on deepening collaboration between the state government and the electricity distribution company to strengthen power infrastructure and expand electricity access to homes, businesses, and industries.
The governor stressed that stable electricity remained a top priority of his administration, adding that the government would continue to engage stakeholders and private sector players to support initiatives capable of improving power generation and distribution.
Speaking earlier, Afolabi said the visit was to brief the governor on the takeover of IBEDC by a new management team and explore ways of addressing challenges facing the power company.
He noted that meaningful development could not be achieved without stable electricity supply, while commending Abiodun for his achievements in infrastructure and energy development.
Also speaking, Ijose said the company was seeking stronger collaboration with the Ogun State Government to address electricity challenges affecting communities and industrial clusters across the state.
He added that improved synergy between both parties would help fast-track interventions targeted at reducing outages and improving service delivery.
