The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has called for stiffer punishment for vandals of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI). 

Its FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, made the appeal yesterday in Abuja, noting that the punishment meted out to offenders in courts was too lenient compared to the degree of damage they inflict on the lives of Nigerians and national development.

Odumosu urged the Federal Government and the judiciary to implement stricter penalties for individuals who vandalise CNAI, arguing that current punishment and fines that are as low as N2,000 to N5,000 or community service were too insignificant to deter perpetrators.

The commandant pointed out that the leniency of punishment contributes to a high rate of repeat offences and flagrant disregard for laws. He said: “The punishment meted out to suspected vandals arraigned in court is too minimal. Most of them, by the time we take them to court, only get very minimal penalties such as fines.

“Fines can be as low as N2,000 to N5,000 or community service. We arrest vandals, but we keep seeing them back on the road vandalising government infrastructure over and over again. This is a cause of concern for us.”

Odumosu appealed to relevant authorities to adopt measures that would instil a sense of fear among potential vandals.