In a bid to curb the rising incidents of vandalism and theft of public and private infrastructure, Hon. Dawood Olalere, representing Ibadan North-West State Constituency, has moved a motion at the Oyo State House of Assembly to regulate the activities of metal scavengers, commonly known as “Bola”.
The Motion was held on Tuesday during House plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.
The motion notes that these scavengers have been implicated in the theft and destruction of critical utilities, including streetlights, road signposts, electrical installations, railway tracks, and security barriers, posing significant risks to public safety and economic stability.
“In their relentless search for scrap metal, these scavengers have been implicated in the theft and destruction of critical utilities, posing significant risks to public safety and economic stability,” the motion reads.
Hon. Olalere’s motion further observes that the indiscriminate activities of these scavengers have disrupted communities and businesses, particularly those in the Blacksmith, Welder, and Iron Sellers Association, who have repeatedly raised concerns over the severe economic losses caused by the unchecked operations of scavengers.
“Many residents lament that reporting the activities of ‘Bola’ boys to the police no longer yields results, as offenders are often released without consequences or are seen in close interactions with law enforcement officials,” the motion notes.
It also highlights the involvement of some scavengers in criminal activities, including acting as informants for kidnappers and armed robbers, and facilitating theft, burglary, and vandalism of critical infrastructure.
“Reports indicate that many of these scavengers serve as informants for kidnappers and armed robbers, using their scavenging activities as a cover to conduct surveillance on neighborhoods, business premises, and critical installations,” the motion states.
To address this menace, the motion resolves to urge the Executive Arm of Government to take several measures, including regulating the activities of scrap metal dealers, establishing designated collection centers for scrap materials, and enforcing strict penalties against scrap dealers or recycling companies found to be receiving stolen public infrastructure materials.
The motion also calls on the Committees on Environment, Water Resources and Ecology, and Security and Strategies to interface with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community leaders, and security agencies, to proffer sustainable solutions to the activities of scavengers.
Some of the lawmakers in their contributions commended the mover of the Motion, and described it as a step in the right direction.
According to them, several states, including Lagos, Kwara, Anambra, Enugu, and the Federal Capital Territory, have already taken proactive steps to regulate or ban the activities of scavengers due to their negative impact on security and public infrastructure.
