BENIN CITY — Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has disclosed plans to send a bill to the State House of Assembly to regulate the operations of scavengers and scrap dealers, following growing cases of vandalism and theft linked to their activities across the state.
The governor made the disclosure on Tuesday when he received the new Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo State Command, Commandant Akintayo Saidi Ayinla, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Benin City.
Governor Okpebholo expressed concern over the rising incidents of stolen iron materials, electric cables, and public property allegedly perpetrated by scavengers and scrap collectors.
He vowed that his administration would work closely with security agencies to curb the menace.
“The way they go about stealing irons, removing and destroying property belonging to people is not acceptable at all,” the governor said.
“We are going to propose a bill to the House of Assembly to regulate their operations. When someone is operating, he should know his boundaries.
“f they go beyond that, they should know they are fighting the government. We need to ensure sanity in their activities.”
Okpebholo also pledged the government’s continued support for the NSCDC in its efforts to combat vandalism and other security threats, while condoling with the Corps over the death of its former state commandant, Gbenga Agun Joseph.
In his remarks, Commandant Ayinla, who officially assumed duty on October 17, 2025, commended the governor for his administration’s sustained support to security agencies through the provision of vehicles, financial aid, and logistics.
He disclosed that the NSCDC had begun a statewide census of scrap markets and scavenging points to enhance monitoring and control, warning that unregulated operations in the sector had become a serious security concern.
“While the scrap and scavenging industry contributes to economic activities, its operations have regrettably been linked to rising cases of vandalism and criminality,” Ayinla said.
“If not properly regulated, these activities could escalate into more serious crimes such as vehicle theft and destruction of government infrastructure.”
The Commandant urged the state government to designate specific scrap market zones, enforce registration and licensing for dealers, and restrict handling of sensitive materials such as electric cables, manhole covers, and streetlight poles.
