SIR: The way and manner government’s officials handling national projects go about the jobs whereby expensive equipment at project sites are allowed to be stolen by thieves and saboteurs often leaves a complete sour taste in the mouth.

How such equipment that ought to be put under tight security are handled so carelessly that most of them either get stolen or vandalised is both annoying and worrying.

Just recently, the lights meant for the runway at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, were carted away by thieves. Again, about few days ago, some items at the site of the ongoing Second Niger bridge project were removed by vandals. Also about a month ago, some thieves who specialise in vandalising and removing rail tracks were accosted by the police in Nasarawa State.

The question to ask is who should be held responsible whenever such an issue as theft of assets at project site is concerned? To answer the question, another question surfaces and that is who is supposed to oversee and supervise projects being carried out at any point in time?

The answer is unmistakably the honourable minister in charge of such projects and it therefore goes without saying that any minister in charge of any project where items are stolen should be held accountable.

It is sad that while every project being carried out by the Federal Government often gulps several unaccountable billions of funds in different currencies, officers in charge still act irresponsibly by allowing some of the expense items to be stolen.  There, indeed, shouldn’t be any excuses for any such lapses at any point in time.

It is therefore very important for the government to take a very drastic step on whichever minister in charge of any project where stories of stolen items crop up accountable. It is only if and when this is done that proper care will be taken of national assets.
Jide Oyewusi, coordinator of Ethics Watch International, Lagos.