By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State government has said the ban on the illegal activities and operations of metal scrap dealers (popularly known as ‘Iron Condemned’, ‘Iron Kwandem’, or ‘Ndị Akpakara’) in the state is still effective.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Dr. Felix Odimegwu, stated this in an exclusive interview with this reporter regarding the enforcement status of the ban that was pronounced on September 13 by the state government.
The clarification is coming following the reports and observations that the scrap mongers still roam around in the state, one month after the ban, raising questions and concerns about the effectiveness and enforcement of the pronouncement.
Recall that, the state government, after pronouncing this state-wide ban and restrictions on the activities of the notorious folks who go from place to place, stealing valuables and committing different types of atrocities and illegalities under the guise of condemn iron dealers; also announced the intention to get the genuine scrap metal dealers in the state registered and certified, so that they can continue to operate and contribute to the state’s economy. The government, then urged the genuine and properly constituted scrap metal dealers to go to the State Ministry of Environment for registration and certification.
Giving an update on the implementation of this, Commissioner Odimegwu noted that the state government, through the Ministry, had already commenced the registration and certification exercise.
According to him, “We have started registering and certifying them. And you know there is a deadline for the registration. That is why we are calling on them to come and get registered and certified; and we have been registering those of them who are coming.
“Once we are through with the registration now, we publish the names of the registered dealers and their locations. And anybody caught operating without being registered and certified will be arrested and prosecuted.
“Meanwhile, the ban is still very much effective, even at the moment. The Governor has banned all those illegal activities and operations. So, anybody who operates even now without being registered and certified is operating illegally; if caught, he will be arrested and prosecuted as well. That is why we are calling on them to rush now and get registered.”
Continuing, the Commissioner said the first phase of the state-wide registration of the scrap dealers would end by October 31 this year, after which there may or may not be an extension of time, depending on the outcome of the review that will be carried out after the expiration of the deadline. He, therefore, re-echoed the call on the yet-to-be-registered scrap scavengers in the state to take advantage of the remaining days to get registered and certified, to continue their operation in Anambra.
He also hinted that, aside the routine monitoring of compliance, the enforcement team, comprising the officers of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA Brigade), and the Special Anti-touting Squad in Anambra (SASA), would, from time to time storm the various locations where the scrap dealers have trading pits in the state, to check their registration status also examine their wares to see if they contain any stolen or vandalized property, which, if so, will result in the arrest and prosecution of the owners and possible sealing or total closure of that pit.
When asked how and where the registration and certification exercise is done, Commissioner Odimegwu explained that, although the exercise is currently ongoing at the State Ministry of Environment, Awka; there is intention to activate registration centres at the various Departments of Environment and Sanitation in all the 21 local government areas in the state, a plan that was somewhat slowed down by the just-concluded election of local government mayors, who were just recently sworn-in to assume duty.
He, however, advised that while the plan to activate these centres at the local government areas is still being hatched, scrap dealers should continue going to the State Ministry of Environment where the exercise is currently ongoing, for their registration, as some others have already done.
He also emphasized that the registration is very simple and easy to do, as it just involves provisions of necessary information through filling of relevant forms, as well as signing of an oath form to remain law-abiding in the State.
“So, it is very simple and does not take time to complete,” he concluded.
The Commissioner, in the interview, also reiterated his recent warning against indiscriminate dumping of refuse by some residents of the State, emphasizing that actions are currently being expedited against that, as the his Ministry would not condone anything capable of sabotaging Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration’s vision and sincere efforts of making Anambra a livable and prosperous homeland.
