Left to Right : Mr. Aniekan Uko, sponsor of the abandoned Akwa Ibom Metal Scrap Dealers Bill conversing with the Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Aniekan Bassey. (Credit: Facebook)
Abasifreke Effiong, Uyo.
The Akwa Ibom state government has banned scrap scavenging in the state with immediate effect.
The banned order was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday 4th January, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem.
The ban came two days after two scavengers who murdered an indigene of the State were killed by a mob on Sunday afternoon near the University of Uyo.
A statement by the State government reads: “Government of Akwa Ibom State has, with immediate effect, banned the activities of scrap scavengers in the State. This follows several incidents of grave infractions including acts of criminality and threat to peaceful inter-ethnic relationship in the state by operators of this enterprise.”
“The action of Government is also in consonance with public sentiments amidst popular complaints against the activities of these scavengers who wantonly violate peoples properties, stealing and assaulting law abiding citizens in the process.”
“Recall that sometime in 2021, multiple explosions, causing fatalities, were recorded in Oruk Anam Local Government Area in the course of scavengers sorting out what turned out to be military brand explosives. About four lives were lost in this incident.”
“Similarly, on 2nd Jan, 2022 scavengers violated the premises of a citizen in Afaha Oku, Uyo Local Government Area in an attempt to cart away properties. While attempting to prevent the scavengers, the citizen was callously murdered in cold blood while mob action was visited on the scavenger assailants causing the death of the two scavengers.”
“Sundays appear to be the busiest day for these scavengers who take advantage of mass Church attendance to invade homes and cart away valuables leaving hapless citizens with tales of woe upon their return from Church”, the statement notes.
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The statement added that violators of the ban will be apprehended and dealt with according to the law.
“The operations of scrap scavengers in the State is banned forthwith. Violators of this ban will be apprehended and dealt with according to the law.”
However, Akwa Ibom State does not have a law regulating the business of scavenging despite a proliferation in the number of scavengers in the State.
It is estimated that about 30,000 youths, mostly immigrants are into the business of metal scavenging.
In January 2020, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, received a Bill seeking to regulate metal scavenging in the State but the Bill was abandoned after it passed second reading.
The Bill entitled “Akwa Ibom Metal Scrap Dealers Bill 2020”, sponsored by a former Speaker of the House and member representing Ibesikpo Asutan State Constituency, Mr. Aniekan Uko, sought among other things to license metal scrap scavengers and regulate their operations.
Leading debate on the Bill in February 2020, Mr. Uko said regulation of metal scrap business was intended to check increased cases of theft and criminality reported by communities against the scavengers.
“Scrap metal business has been heavily tainted with controversies and scandals. Most of these scandals assume criminal colouration. Too often, stolen properties have been traced to scrap metal dealers. Starting from the collectors in the streets to the manager of a dump site, there is an intricate web of shady transactions that is clothe in criminal apparels.”
“We are no strange to at least one story involving the theft of private properties by scrap metal collectors. Generators, bicycles, car batteries and parts, signposts, government trash bins and even cooking pots have been disappearing at alarming rates. The situation is so bad that scrap metal dump sites are now the first ports of call for missing items.”
“I submit that a regulation of scrap metal business will invariably reduce the rate of petty crimes particularly theft. There is need for urgent legislative action. This Bill represents a bold attempt by the government to restore sanity to a business that is gradually spiraling out of control”, Mr. Uko said while defending the Bill.
The Dune can recall that metal scrap scavengers have been linked to removal and theft of metal signposts belonging to churches and business within and outside the State capital.
Metal scrap scavengers in the State have also been accused of the removal and theft of metal manholes on some roads within Uyo metropolis including Wellington Bassey way leading to the Akwa Ibom State government house.
Before last Sunday’s attack on Ikpa road resident in Uyo, metal scrap scavengers attacked Mbiabong Etoi community, Uyo local government area in October 2021. They also attacked and killed a female resident in Abak in November 2021.
Residents of the State who reacted to the statement on the ban posted on Facebook applauded the government’s decision.
One of them, a journalist, Aniekan Udofia wrote, “Commendable. These set of people vandalized electric cables in a construction site under my care and it cost us so much to replace. Truly they are of no economic value to the state.”
Ekopimo Ekopimo wrote “With this action we need no one to tell us that the government listen to the citizens.”
Residents of the State have called on the government to ensure strict enforcement of the ban.
