Anambra Govt Bans Scrap ‘Condemned Iron’ Scavengers
The Government of Anambra has outlawed the activities of scrap scavengers popularly called ‘’Iron Condemned’ buyers and sellers.
Mr Paul Nwosu, Commissioner for Information who disclosed this in a Statement in Awka on Saturday said the decision was because of increasing criminality associated with them.
Nwosu said anybody doing business with them will be equally arrested and prosecuted as it amounted to receiving stolen property adding that two agencies of government had been empowered to enforce the order.
“Anambra State Government has therefore prohibited the operations of the Condemned Iron or Ndi Akpakara or “Iron Kwandem” scavengers,” he said.
He said the scavengers had become so brazen in dismantling and wrecking public utilities, stealing metal coverings of gutters, the iron medians on the highways and the steel railings on the sides of the motorways.
According to him, their mission is ostensibly to buy condemned or disused metal objects from households, workshops, business premises or anybody who can freely offer their stock-in-trade (scrap metals).
“But what used to be simple and hassle-free transactions with itinerant seemingly harmless cart pushers have ended up becoming pests to society.
“The nuisance value of the ubiquitous “Iron Kwandem” scavengers can no longer be tolerated for they now constitute a pain in the neck of society as their activities are adversely affecting the economy of the state and the country at large.
“They removed and carted away most of the iron components of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, fence facing the ever busy Enugu-Awka expressway.
“Shortly after the celebrated second Niger Bridge was commissioned, the side-bars, beams and the heavy steel sheets interlocking segments of the bridge were yanked off by these devil-may-care “Iron Kwandem” scavengers.
“Even the poles bearing the solar streetlights in Anambra State have been randomly and willfully vandalized by these scavengers for illicit profit,” he said.
He said no responsible government would stand by and watch this sheer act of lawlessness to persist, adding that they would not be allowed to continue in the evil act of stealing private and public metal objects.
He said the government has of course delineated the difference between the illegal condemned iron scavengers and the traders doing legitimate scrap metal business.
“Government intends to henceforth duly register the scrap metal dealers so that they can continue their contribution to the economy of the state without hindrances.
“The properly constituted scrap metal dealers are advised to go to the Ministry of Environment for re-certification,” he said
