Akwa Ibom state government has said that it would soon embark on the replacement of vandalised electrical installations, transformer substations in Uyo and environs.
State Commissioner for Power & Petroleum Development, Dr. John Etim made this known while on an inspection tour to some vandalised installations in the State Capital yesterday expressing sadness over the wanting destruction done to the installations.
Etim who inspected vandalized electricity installations at Ewet Housing Estate, Ekpri Nsukara, Anua Offot, Akamba Nsukara Offot and Atiku Abubakar road warned that henceforth government would take the prosecution of vandals more serious.
The commissioner called on the people to be watchful and ensure that government facilities located in their communities were protected from all forms of vandalism adding that it must be everybody’s business to ensure their safety.
“If government spends money to install facilities for us, we should also live up to expectations, to make sure these facilities are safe, so If you see something, say something, by alerting the security agencies and other relevant authorities”. He said.
The State Assembly Etim said would soon enact a legislation that would hold beneficiaries of government projects accountable, thereby, making them responsible for vandalised public utilities.
He described as unacceptable and irresponsible peoples’ refusal to pay their electricity bills after consumption and tasked electricity consumers to fulfill their own part of the bargain.
The inspection the commissioner disclosed was undertaken as a result of applications received from the affected communities and called on others with the same plight to apply to the ministry.
