NDDC Urges Niger Delta Communities to Protect Public Infrastructure

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has urged traditional rulers, community leaders and residents across the region to take collective responsibility for protecting public infrastructure from vandalism and theft.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, made the call at a Stakeholders’ Forum on Public Infrastructure and Vandalism Prevention in Port Harcourt.

Ogbuku, represented by the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Sir Kelechi Nwelue, said government had a responsibility to provide basic amenities, while communities had a duty to protect them.

He said vandalism of public infrastructure forced government to divert funds meant for new projects towards repairs and replacement, thereby slowing development.

“Security is an important factor in society. Development strengthens security and security protects development,” he said.

Ogbuku urged community leaders to regard government-funded projects in their areas as community assets rather than property belonging solely to the government.

He called for greater public awareness to discourage vandalism and theft, stressing the need to make the destruction of public infrastructure socially unacceptable.

He also urged residents, youth groups, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to report suspicious activities to relevant authorities.

Ogbuku identified roads, bridges, electricity facilities, water projects, schools and health centres among the infrastructure requiring greater community protection.

The NDDC Director of Community and Rural Development, Theophilus Alagoa, expressed concern over the destruction and theft of government facilities in communities.

Alagoa said vandalism, theft and deliberate destruction of public projects constituted serious crimes and threatened sustainable development.

He noted that such acts resulted in the loss of public resources, undermined essential services and increased the cost of maintaining or replacing infrastructure.

The forum facilitator, Ibiyekaribo Inko-Tariah, said the programme was organised to educate stakeholders and develop measures for safeguarding government-funded projects so they could continue serving communities.