The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, has called for severe measures against individuals involved the destruction and theft of public infrastructure on federal highways.
Onanuga made the remark on Sunday while reacting to a video shared on X by a user, Salanwu Omoiyaonipako, showing suspected vandals cutting iron materials at the ongoing reconstruction site of the Ibadan–Ilesa/Ife Federal Highway.
In the footage, the vandals were seen removing starter bars and shoulder rods used for the road construction, an act that has raised concerns over the persistent sabotage of government projects.
Commenting on the development, Omoiyaonipako lamented that despite significant government investment in road infrastructure, some individuals continued to undermine the efforts by damaging public assets.
He wrote, “This is an update on the reconstruction of the Ibadan–Ilesa/Ife Federal Highway. Vandals are once again cutting and removing construction materials at the site.
It is disheartening that while the government is working to deliver quality roads, some citizens are bent on destroying them.”
Reacting, Onanuga condemned the act in strong terms, describing those involved as irresponsible and harmful to national development.
In a terse response on X, the presidential aide referred to the vandals as “unconscionable” and blamed persistent infrastructure damage on what he termed a lack of civic responsibility.
Incidents of vandalism on federal highways have continued to pose serious challenges to infrastructure development across the country.
Beyond road projects, vandals have also targeted oil pipelines, railway installations, and electricity facilities, leading to service disruptions, economic losses and, in some cases, loss of lives.