The Edo State Government has announced a major initiative to curb rising insecurity by regulating the activities of scavengers and scrap metal dealers, Governor Monday Okpebholo has said.
The Governor revealed plans to send a bill to the state house of assembly to formally control the industry, which he linked to increased theft and vandalism of public and private property.
The announcement was made on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the new Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akintayo Saidi Ayinla, at the Government House in Benin City.
Governor Okpebholo used the occasion to pledge his administration’s “full support” to the NSCDC in its mission to tackle vandalism. He began by extending his condolences to the corps on the passing of the previous commandant, Gbenga Agun Joseph, describing the news as a “shock.”
Addressing the core issue, the Governor strongly condemned the methods of some scavengers. “The way they go about stealing irons, removing and destroying property belonging to people is not acceptable at all,” he stated.
Outlining his government’s solution, Governor Okpebholo said, “We are going to propose a regulatory document in the form of a bill to the House of Assembly.”
He explained that the legislation would set clear boundaries for operators. “When somebody is operating, he should know his boundaries. If they go beyond that, they should know that they are fighting the Government. We need to do that so that there will be sanity in their operations.”
The Governor expressed confidence in the new NSCDC Commandant, noting his familiarity with the state, saying, “With the information I have before me, you are not new to the State. So, I can say that you are a son of the soil.”
In his remarks, Commandant Ayinla commended the Governor for his consistent support to security agencies in the state. He officially assumed his role on October 17, 2025.
The Commandant highlighted the specific security challenges posed by the unregulated scrap trade, citing “the theft of electric cables, manhole covers, and streetlight poles.”
He issued a stern warning: “While the scrap and scavenging industry contributes to economic activities, its operations have regrettably been linked to rising cases of vandalism and criminality. If not properly regulated, these activities could escalate into more severe crimes such as vehicle theft and destruction of government infrastructure.”
Ayinla disclosed that the NSCDC has already “commenced a census of scrap markets and scavenging points across Edo State to establish a monitoring and control framework.”
He appealed to the government to adopt measures such as designating specific areas for scrap markets, regulating their hours of operation, and mandating the registration and licensing of all dealers.
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