THE Enugu State government has restated its ban on their operations of scavengers and cart pushers.
The state government warned that any scavengers and cart pushers caught would be prosecuted.
Secretary to the State Government – SSG, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, made this known after an elaborate meeting with the leadership and representatives of the Hausa/Fulani Community and their Igbo and Yoruba counterparts at the Government House, Enugu.
“Enugu State Government is determined to protect every life and property of our citizens. That is our primary responsibility. We will ensure that every threat to the security and peace of the state is eliminated,’’ Onyia said.
“The government will no longer condone the activities of scavengers in the state. We have to rid the state of every vestige of crimes by restoring sanity. We want to assure all residents in the state who are into genuine business that we will continue to work towards making the environment safer for them.
“You will recall that sometime in November 2023, after reports from residents complaining about harassment and theft from scavengers and illegal waste pickers, the government set up a committee to assess the extent of the threats scavengers posed to the wellbeing of our law-abiding citizens.
“It was established that criminals are now roaming the streets posing as scavengers. Following this establishment, the government activated the law that provides against scavenging activities by outlawing these illegal operators.
“However, as a government with empathy and a humane face, we allowed for time to communicate the order. During the period, it was observed that more of the scavengers had infiltrated the state.