The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Ebonyi has urged citizens on the need for attitudinal change towards protection of public assets and critical infrastructure.
Mr Theophilus Nwokpor, Agency’s Director in the state gave the charge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abakaliki.
Nwokpor decried the way public assets were being vandalised by citizens, especially on electrical facilities, public schools, telecommunication and rail facilities among others.
The director said the Agency had visited communities in some Ebonyi Local Government Areas to enlighten the people on the need to safeguard such properties around them.
“The citizens should develop sense of ownership of critical infrastructure such as electrical installations, telecom assets, rail lines and others.
“Infrastructure is to be protected by community within which such assets are located.
“Yes, we have an ongoing campaign focusing on conservation and protection of critical infrastructure. The goal is to make the citizens know that protection of such assets is their responsibility,” Nwokpor stated.
He urged the general public to desist from vandalism of such assets.
“It costs a fortune to put these critical infrastructure and assets in place.
“It is disheartening when Nigerians vandalise public assets like oil installations, rail track, telecom assets and others.
“It is high time we took the ownership of critical infrastructure being put in our place by respective governments at different levels which helps quality service delivery.
“Boreholes, roads, bridges, pipelines, electrical cables, schools, airports, telecommunication infrastructure are put in place for us to use,” he said.
The director blamed scrap dealers over the situation and moved to join force with the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute the people involved.
“We have met with the community heads in Abakaliki Local Government Area; Agbaja Community and other rural areas in the efforts to reduce vandalism of public infrastructure,” he added.