Delta State government has reiterated ban on the activities of iron scavengers in the 25 local councils of the state. Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, who reaffirmed the state government’s position on the issue, said any offender shall be apprehended and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to those contemplating breaking the laws.
Oghenesivbe was reacting to reports of alleged activities of iron scavengers in some parts of the state. He said: “The ban is in line with subsisting laws and regulations. The state government has directed law enforcement agents and the state taskforce on environment to intensify compliance, arrest and prosecute deviants and offenders.
“Penalties for breaking the law regarding the activities range from fines to terms of imprisonment or both. Any scavenger caught operating under the guise of a registered operator by the Ministry of Environment shall be prosecuted and jailed.”
Oghenesivbe explained that the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ejiro Jamani, had also confirmed that there was never a time his ministry issued permits or branded uniforms to scavengers to operate in any part of the state.
He, therefore, urged members of the public to report any scavenger to the police, local vigilantes or the taskforce on environment for arrest and immediate prosecution.
