… Appeals for Regional Market
By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
Chairman of the Scrap Dealers Association, Chief Nwigwe Ejike, has confirmed that four people suspected of vandalizing property have been arrested and handed over to the police.
This announcement came after accusations by Hon. Paul Nwobashi, the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, who blamed scrap dealers for damaging school property during the holidays.
Chief Ejike strongly disapproved of the vandals’ actions and made it clear that the association had no connection to their activities.
He said, “In just three weeks since we took charge, we’ve been working hard to stop vandalism. We gave the security and police information about four individuals who were trying to sell government property, even though they’re not part of our association. They’ve handed over to the police for questioning.”
Chief Ejike expressed sadness over the development, saying, “We feel deeply affected when government property is vandalized in the state because some of our members have children and relatives attending these schools. Vandalism affects our association, and on behalf of the association, I extend our sincere apologies.”
Regarding the allegations made against the association, Chief Ejike made it clear that they do not condone the vandalism of any property. He stated, “Our association has clear guidelines, and we emphasize that well-registered members should not purchase government property. Those who defy this rule will not only face legal consequences but also expulsion from our association.”
He further disclosed some of the challenges faced in the scrap business, including financial constraints, illegal activities of non-registered members and the impact of climate change, particularly during the rainy season.
In light of these difficulties, Chief Ejike appealed to the government to provide a regional market for the association, which would help in monitoring and curbing the activities of vandals.
“We are currently scattered across different places, making it a significant challenge for our task force to monitor and curb vandalism effectively. With a regional market, we can be gathered in one place, making assessments and security measures much more efficient for our association,” Chief Ejike explained.
Lending their voices to the appeal, the Vice Chairman of the association, Hon. Nwite Chidi, and Mrs. Nwoye called on the State government to provide a regional market for the association, emphasizing its potential to combat crimes effectively in the State.