The Ekiti State Commissioner for Works, Sola Adebayo, has said the state government will henceforth sanction any group or individual found defacing public infrastructure in the state.

Adebayo said the practice of pasting posters on public infrastructure, particularly on the ongoing flyover project in the state capital, “is unacceptable and capable of undermining its outer structure and aesthetic value.”

The commissioner, in a statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, stressed that “the defacing of the Okeyinmi–Ejigbo Phase II Flyover under construction will not be tolerated by the state government.”

He recalled that with the lifting of the ban on public campaigns ahead of the June 20 governorship election in the state, posters of parties and candidates have begun to litter the streets.

However, the commissioner warned individuals, organisations and political groups against pasting posters on the flyover bridge undergoing construction in the state capital, describing the act as an offence.

He said, “Anyone caught pasting posters or engaging in any act capable of defacing the flyover for whatever reason would be sanctioned by the state government.”

He urged residents, corporate organisations and political groups to refrain from such activities and support the government’s efforts to maintain public infrastructure.

Adebayo also appealed to members of the public to strictly comply with the road diversion arrangements put in place by the state government around the construction area to ensure safety and the smooth flow of traffic.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Olukayode Ibijola, also emphasised that pasting posters on the new flyover structure was strictly prohibited.

Ibijola said, “The flyover is a major infrastructure project designed to improve traffic flow and enhance the beauty of the state capital. Defacing the structure with posters would undermine the purpose of the project.”

He urged residents, organisations and political groups to cooperate with the state government by respecting the ban and helping to preserve the new flyover for the benefit of all road users.

The permanent secretary reiterated the state government’s commitment to completing the flyover project in line with required standards for the benefit of residents and motorists in the state. (The PUNCH)