• Tasks communities on protecting critical infrastructure
Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State has expressed worry about the level of vandalism of electricity equipment in the state, urging the people to take ownership of infrastructural assets located in their communities.
Otu said this after he concluded an electrification assessment tour of the Northern Senatorial District of the state. He said: “What we have observed on the ground is profoundly troubling and, to be frank, immensely disappointing. The extent of vandalism is staggering, leaving virtually nothing in its wake. The damage inflicted is so extensive that it will undoubtedly incur substantial costs for the state to rectify. It is not just a matter of repairing the equipment, it is about rebuilding trust and ensuring the sustainability of our electricity infrastructure for future generations.”
The assessment exercise was aimed at evaluating the status of electrification across the Northern Senatorial Zone. While interfacing with traditional rulers, elders and youths, Otu stressed the critical role they have to play in protecting critical infrastructure in the state.
Lamenting the extent of damage, he said: “What has transpired cannot be reversed, but together we have the power to halt this destructive trend through taking collective ownership of government infrastructure.”
