Lagos Assembly Calls for Action on Scavengers, Theft of Manhole Covers

The Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the state government to address the growing menace of scavengers and the rising theft of manhole covers.The lawmakers called for strict enforcement of the Environmental Management Protection Law, 2017, to curb these activities.

The resolution followed a motion moved by Gbolahon Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2) on illegal waste sourcing. Yishawu raised concerns about the environmental damage caused by scavengers and the increasing incidents of manhole theft across Lagos.

He noted that the activities of scavengers had led to the destruction of public infrastructure, forcing the government to allocate significant funds for replacements.

Highlighting the importance of manholes on Lagos roads, Yishawu said, “Scavengers have destroyed numerous state infrastructures, and the cost of replacing them has become a financial burden for the government.”

During the debate, Speaker Mojisola Lasbat Meranda urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, to enforce the provisions of the Environmental Management Protection Law.

The Speaker also called on the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, to initiate public awareness campaigns to educate residents about the dangers of manhole theft and encourage the reporting of suspicious activities.

Meranda emphasised the urgency of replacing stolen manhole covers to ensure public safety and discourage the illegal sourcing of recyclable materials. She further recommended sanctions against unlicensed scrap dealers and proposed the creation of a whistleblower system to gather information that could lead to the arrest of manhole thieves.

“The government should raise community vigilance by encouraging local communities and Community Development Associations to form neighbourhood groups to monitor and protect public infrastructure,” she said.

Meranda warned that failure to address the issue promptly could result in severe consequences, including the destruction of critical road infrastructure, an increase in road accidents due to open manholes, and blocked drainage systems leading to flooding.