ANAMBRA GOVT MEETS MEMBERS OF SCRAP DEALERS AND SCAVENGERS; PLANS TO HALT CRIMINALITY, ILLEGALITY
By Lilian Ezejiegu :
The Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Environment has expressed Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s commitment toward ensuring sanity and legality of scrap dealers and their members in the State.
The Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Felix Odimegwu, represented by the Permanent Secretary of Environment, Mr Tochukwu Obodogha while addressing a group of Anambra Scrap Dealers and Scavengers Association said that the Essence of the meeting is to plan on how to make Anambra great and stop all sorts of criminality and illegality in the state.
During the meeting yesterday, Mr Tochukwu stressed that the stealing and vandalisation of Private and Public goods, properties and infrastructure shall be put to a stop in the state.
“We want to prevent trading of stolen or vandalized goods, properties and infrastructure in the state.
“No more loitering around of scavengers at odd hours especially when people have left their houses or when students have gone to school.”
He also highlighted that the pit shall have specialized visits to the location where the scrap dealers have trading pits in the state from time to time by the Ministry of Environment which comprises the officers of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (Ocha Brigade) and the Special Anti-Touting Squad in Anambra (SASA). “If they examine these pits to contain any stolen or vandalized properties, it shall result in the arrest and prosecution of the owners and possible sealing of that pit.
“We have restricted all scavengers movement in the streets and refuse bins. All scavenging activities shall be done at the dump sites for now until we have a proper regulations of who will be going around to scavenge.
“Scavengers will be identified with Identification Cards. Any Scavengers who want to engage in scavenging work and does not have identification card will be arrested and prosecuted especially any movement at odd hours.
Obodogha opined that all dealers will be identified with their Certificate at their pit so as to get rid of bad element among them.
To this effect, Anambra State Government did not ban Metal Scrap Waste Management but restricted the illegality activities that constitute criminality in the state. It is part of circular economy, he said.
“We want you to work hand in hand with the state government to ensure all sorts of criminalities are stopped immediately.
The Chairman of the Anambra Scrap Dealers and Scavengers Association, Mr. Stephen Azubuike Igboke, has praised the state government’s efforts to address the challenges facing the industry. However, he also appealed to the government to take action against impostors who are masquerading as legitimate scrap dealers and scavengers, thereby disrupting their business operations.
A Scrap Dealer, Mr. Dominic Ndubuisi Nkwuda’s statement highlights the importance of regulating the scrap metal industry in Anambra State. By stabilizing the industry, the government can help reduce criminal activities, such as theft and vandalism, which are often associated with scrap metal dealings.
As a scrap dealer with years of experience, He acknowledged that there are “bad eggs” in the industry, but believed that the government can work with legitimate scrap dealers to identify and eliminate fake or illegal operators.
Also Present in the meeting include Director of Environmental Health and Pollution Control(EHPC) Rev. Sr. Dr Monique Okeke, HOD Accounts Mrs Nkemakonam Imoka.
*Lilian is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State