By Sandra Kenneth
Mounting fears and widespread anxiety have gripped residents across Port Harcourt as the incessant theft of manhole covers and a lack of surveillance over critical public infrastructure turn major city thoroughfares into dangerous death traps.
An investigation by ExceedMedia reveals that major commercial and residential hubs—including Mile 1, Mile 3, Elekahia, Choba, Rumuokoro, and significant stretches along Ikwerre Road—have been systematically targeted by scavengers. The removal of these heavy metal covers leaves cavernous openings directly into underground sewage, drainage, and telecommunications networks.
The open pits have triggered a surge in road accidents, leaving numerous pedestrians and commuters with severe, life-altering injuries.
Describing the daily hazard, Emilia, a local resident and recent victim of an uncovered drain, labeled the situation a disaster in plain sight.
“It is a death trap and a crisis waiting to happen to any unsuspecting passerby,” Emilia said, noting that navigating unlit streets at night has become particularly perilous. “In areas without functional streetlights, walking after dark feels like navigating a minefield.”
In several locations, hazardous quick-fixes have replaced proper iron covers. Some pits are precariously covered with flimsy, lightweight tarpaulins, while others have degenerated into makeshift dumping sites, creating environmental hazards and blocking urban drainage channels.
Reacting to the public outcry, the Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public assets while calling for stronger inter-agency cooperation.
Speaking on the issue, the State Public Relations Officer for the NSCDC, Superintendent of Corps Ihemnacho Umeado, acknowledged that missing manholes remain a recurring danger responsible for severe injuries and fatalities across the state.
“No responsible government or security agency—especially the NSCDC, which is saddled with the legal mandate of protecting public infrastructure—will sit back and watch key assets be vandalized,” Umeado stated.
He highlighted that security agencies face operational limits that require modern technical solutions and multi-agency synergy.
“It requires a collaborative effort among all security agencies; personnel cannot be everywhere at the same time,” Umeado noted. “If technology such as CCTV cameras can be deployed along major roads and linked to a centralized control room, it would significantly boost our capacity to monitor and protect critical infrastructure.”
The spokesperson confirmed that the Corps has already made progress in cracking down on perpetrators, disclosing that several scavengers and members of specialized vandal syndicates have been arrested and charged to court.
“In recent times, we have made a couple of arrests and prosecuted suspects,” Umeado added. “With our new State Commandant, we have established a dedicated tactical team specifically tasked with intercepting vandals and dismantling these syndicates. We expect positive results soon.”
As local security agencies ramp up enforcement, Port Harcourt residents continue to call on state authorities for immediate remedial action to replace missing covers before further lives are lost.
