Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has strongly condemned the destruction of public infrastructure, asserting that economic hardship, poverty, and unemployment are indefensible excuses for vandalizing public assets.

Dalung made the remarks in a public statement following the arrest of 27 suspected scavengers by the Lagos State Government for allegedly vandalizing the concrete pillars and stealing steel reinforcements from the newly constructed FESTAC-Alakija link bridge.

Describing the act as severe criminality rather than ordinary scavenging, Dalung warned that stripping steel reinforcement from bridges jeopardizes structural integrity and puts thousands of lives at risk.

He emphasized that while poverty explains economic desperation, it cannot justify intentional sabotage of community assets. Furthermore, Dalung cautioned community leaders and ethnic interest groups against using concerns over profiling as a shield to protect criminals from facing justice, stressing that accountability must take precedence to prevent a culture of impunity.