Communities across Nigeria have been urged to treat government projects as their own property, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio cautioning that vandalism undermines development efforts.
Akpabio made the appeal while commissioning new infrastructure projects in Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
He reminded residents that their role does not end at receiving projects but extends to safeguarding them for future generations.
“My duty as your representative in the Senate is to ensure that I bring projects you request for the benefit of the people. You, as beneficiaries, owe the government a duty to protect these facilities from vandalism or destruction by enemies of progress,” he said.
Akpabio added that communities should regard public facilities as their own. “If you say, ‘after all, it is government property, let us vandalise them’, are we not all government? Destroying these projects is equivalent to destroying your property, and it only discourages government from doing more.”
The Senate President reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s pledge to deliver on its promises, noting that the Federal Government is focused on improving the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
“This administration is one with a human face, determined to make life easier for the people. The President recently approved that 1,000 Nigerians from every ward nationwide should be financially empowered to boost local economic capacity,” he stated.
A community leader and member of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chris Okorie, pledged support for President Tinubu, Senate President Akpabio, and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno.
Projects commissioned included an eight-classroom block and an ICT centre at St. Augustine’s Secondary School in Ika, a 12-classroom block at Community Secondary School, and an ultra-modern market at Uruk-Ata 2 in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
