The Rivers State House of Assembly has expressed worry over the stealing of over 125 manhole covers by yet-to-be-identified persons in Port Harcourt and its environs.
The Assembly Ad Hoc Committee Chairman on Manhole Theft, Victor Jumbo, disclosed this when he led members of the committee on an on-the-spot assessment of government facilities in different parts of the state.
Jumbo suggested that concrete should be used instead of steel covers for the manholes to make it difficult for hoodlums to cart them away.
He stated, “These people remove both wire mesh and electricity poles that hold the streetlights.
“The manholes from Rumuola to Obiri-Kwere to Igwurita to the airport, down to Eneka, to the Eleme Bridge, everything has been removed. In fact, at a point, we counted 125 manholes with stolen covers.
“I am recommending that we should begin to use concrete as manhole covers to make it less lucrative for stealing.”
Meanwhile, the 32-member legislature recommended the setting up of a task force for the protection of public utilities in collaboration with Community Development Committees and youth groups in all local government areas of the state.
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