‘They’ve become a nuisance’ — Anambra bans operations of iron scavengers

The Anambra government has prohibited the operations of condemned iron scavengers otherwise known as “ndi akpakara” or “iron kwandem” in the state.

The government said the activities of the scavengers is now tantamount to robbery.

Paul Nwosu, commissioner for information, said traders doing legitimate scrap metal business should go to the ministry of environment for recertification.

“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,” the statement reads.

“They steal the metal coverings of gutters, the iron medians on the highways and the steel railings on the sides of the motorways.

“They have become so brazen in dismantling and wrecking public utilities that you begin to wonder if they have special licenses to do what they are doing because they dare where nobody with conscience will risk.

“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.

“No responsible government will stand by and watch this sheer act of lawlessness persist. They cannot be allowed to continue in the evil act of stealing private and public metal objects across the board.

“Anybody doing business with them will be equally arrested and prosecuted because it amounts to receiving stolen property.

“Ndi-Anambra should see it as a patriotic duty to report the activities of the Condemned Iron scavengers to SASA or OCHA Brigade for immediate arrest and prosecution.”

The statement added that the Anambra government has delineated the difference between “the illegal condemned iron scavengers and the traders doing legitimate scrap metal business”.