By Remi Johnson
The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, has arrested a greedy expatriate contractor involved in vandalising streetlights in the territory.
Coordinator of AMMC, Mr. Felix Obuah made this known in Abuja when he led top AMMC management team and Journalists on night inspection of some ongoing streetlights points that have been badly vandalized.
Mr Obuah who described the expatriate act as frustrating an act of sabotaging the good work of FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike in ensuring that the entire city is well lit, said the culprit and all its accomplices would be made to face the wrath of the law.
Contrary to the assumption of many that this nefarious acts were being perpetrated by scavengers and miscreants, Obuah revealed that the suspect in detention is a high level contractors vandalising the streetlights just to enable him get the contract.
“We are not impressed with the level of vandalisation that had happened in some of those lots. We can’t be buying and installing while miscreants and expatriates are vandalising it, sabotaging the good efforts of government is wrong.
“Our report will be submitted to the minister, we must make sure that those vandals and the people buying the items would not go free.” Obuah said.
The Coordinator explained that Abuja streetlights is divided into 21 lots, which he said the 18 lots so far inspected have been vandalised.
He expressed satisfaction with his staff that are currently carrying out intervention works around Jabi and Yar’adua way to ensure that the city wears the looks it deserves.
“But I am impressed with my team for living up to expectations especially with the ongoing maintenance work on Yar’adua way and Jabi areas, the light has been restored but some are yet to be restored.
“We will make sure that within a short possible time, the issues is resolved. Most times , we thought is scavengers or miscreants that are involved in vandalising the streetlights, not until today that we are able to discover that high level contractors are involved in sabotaging the good efforts of the FCT Minister and AMMC.
“The Minister of FCT has given us matching order to make sure that Abuja is lightened up. Abuja is divided into 21 lots, today will inspected almost 18 lots. We have discovered that most of those areas have been vandalised, which some are undergoing intervention work by my team.
“We have arrested a very prominent contractor, an expatriate who is involved in vandalising these streetlights to enable them get this contract.One of the expatriates has been arrested and is in detention, there are full evidence to that effect.” Obuah said
The AMMC Coordinator who also hinted that AMMC has temporary engaged some local vigilante group to man the street light division points, appealed to Nigerians to join hands in protecting Government facilities and speak up when they suspect some fowl play around their environment.