By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The ban recently pronounced on the activities of metal scrap scavengers (popularly known as Iron Condemn, Iron Kwandem, or Ndị Akpakara), in Anambra State by the state government, appears to be a pipe dream.
This is because of the observed sustained operations and activities of the said banned scrap mongers in the state, one month after the ban that was said to be with immediate effect.
Recall that the Anambra State government, through a statement signed by the immediate-past Commissioner for Information in the state, Sir Paul Nwosu, on September 13, pronounced a 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.
The then-Commissioner Nwosu, who highlighted some of the atrocious activities banned scrap scavengers, though, in the statement, explained that the government understood and had delineated the difference between these banned illegal Condemned Iron scavengers and the traders doing legitimate scrap metal business.
He also noted then that the government intended to henceforth duly register the scrap metal dealers so that they can continue their contribution to the economy of the state without hindrances, further urging the properly constituted scrap metal dealers to go to the State Ministry of Environment for re-certification.
The state government also reiterated then that the criminal folks among the scrap scavengers could not be allowed to continue in the evil act of stealing private and public metal objects across board in the name of iron condemn. It further directed Ocha Brigade and SASA to enforce the ban and take the responsibility of immediate arrest and prosecution of anyone violating the ban, including anyone partnering or doing business with them in such acts of lawlessness.
However, bare five weeks into the said ban, nothing appears to have changed, as the scrap mongers still roam around in the state in their numbers and with the usual report on some of their activities by the residents.
This reporter, Izunna Okafor, who monitored the situation in Awka, the capital city of the State, observed that the scavengers still go about their usual business in their usual way, always announcing their passage with their usual shout of “Iron Kwandem”.
The reporter also engaged some of the scrap mongers in a discussion recently to find out why they are still operating despite government’s ban, and if they were truly licensed by the state government as directed.
Shockingly, however, the condemned iron dealers said they never knew that government had banned them, and also surprisingly wondered when and why? They emphasized that they were just hearing that for the very first time, and that they had been operating seamlessly since.
The scrap mongers, at some points in the discussions, also began to doubt the reporter as a joker, arguing that someone ought to have approached or stopped them since then if truly they were banned by the government.
As at the time of filing this report, efforts by this reporter to get the reactions of the State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, proved abortive, as he was yet to respond to his call and message.
