By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Umar Gambo Jibrin has inaugurated a Task Force to audit the Vandalized/Stolen Manhole and Gully Pot Covers in the Federal Capital City.
A statement by Richard A. Nduul, the acting Head, Public Relations/Secretary, Task Force on Wednesday, stated that the taskforce was borne out of the FCT minister, Muhammad Musa Bello’s concern on the high level of vandalism/theft of manhole and gully pot covers in the Federal Capital City (FCC) and the need to address the ugly situation.
Jibrin charged the taskforce members under the Terms of Reference of the Task Force to “Identify all the manhole and gully pot covers for (Storm Water, Sewer, Telecommunication etc) that have been vandalized or stolen.
“Identify the locations (Districts, Sector Centres, Roads, Streets, Close etc)
“Identify the level of vandalism or theft.
“Estimate the cost of restoration or replacement, and
“Recommend appropriate measures to forestall future occurrence.”
To facilitate its assignment and in line with its mandate, the Task Force has brought out professionals across the various Mandate Secretariats, Departments and Agencies of the FCTA as well as the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
In furtherance of this, the Task Force has also constituted 10 different teams to cover the five districts for the field work which has since commenced and is on-going to physically identify the actual locations where these manhole and gully pot covers have been stolen/vandalized with photographs and video clips in special cases where photographs may not convey the peculiar situation on group.
The Task Force, which is mandated to complete the assignment within four weeks with the submission of the field report, urged for the cooperation of the general public for the field workers and to assist them in any way possible for an unhindered execution of their assignment especially volunteering useful information that could lead to this recovery of stolen manhole and gully pot covers.
NatureNews reports that the replacement of the stolen/vandalized manhole and gully pot covers is expected to commence before the coming of the rainy season in order to restore the beauty of the roads and also check flooding of roads whenever it rains.
The Inter-Departmental Task Force chairman is the Director of Special Duties (FCDA), Arc. Eze C. Sunday and Richard A. Nduul Head, Public Relations (FCDA) as Secretary.
Members of the taskforce who are also directors of FCDA are: Engr. Ferdinand O. Ezeoha, Director, Engineerin; Tpl. Zaliha’u Ahmed, Director, Urban and Regional Planning; Surv. M.B. Mahmood, Director, Survey & Mapping; Abdullahi Kuyanbana, Director Legal; and Aminu Aliyu Gaya, Director, Finance & Admin.
Others are: Engr.Omoniyi M. Olaloye, Director, Facility & Maintenance (AMMC); O.E. Braimiah AEPB (AMMC); Muktar Galadima, Director, Development Control (AMMC); and Mrs. Joy Okoro, G.M. FCT Water Board.