It breaks my heart to see valuable properties of innocent citizens of Nigeria being stolen by some group of scavengers who roam around the street to get condemned materials for recycling, in order to earn a living in this difficult times of unemployment, incessant poverty, rapacious corruption and inequality. Have you seen these scavengers and have you lost anything because of their activities in your vicinity? The other day I lost valuable clothing just because I hanged them on the rope outside my apartment. I'll be breaking down the activities of scavengers in Nigeria. Greetings from @salvadornkpara. Let's take it slowly.
Economic Hardship the Reason for Scavenging in Nigeria
The major reasons for scavenging in Nigeria is because of the economic hardship associated with unemployment, poverty, inequality as well as the activities of rapacious corrupt leaders in Nigeria. The hardship had made most Nigerians to venture into business and crafts or what we Nigerians call handwork like sewing, shoe making, welding and fabrication. Others have engaged themselves in unskilled works. It's very difficult for most Nigerians to feed three square meal. Instead of begging on the street most Nigerians, especially the Hausas ventured into scavenging to survive the hardship in the country. Most of them moved from one refuse dump or another to get condemned metals, plastics and paper.
How Scavenging Started in Nigeria
The global movement against disposing of electronics like spoiled computers, televisions, transistor radio and even phone on the earth surface because they're harmful to the earth and can deplete the ozone layer. The awareness in every media on how to properly dispose these items as well as recycling them for reproducing other valuable things from the recycled items saw the rise of recycling center who engaged people who brought such items. The introduction of recycling centers in Nigeria and the financial benefits that will accrue from scavenging brought some person into the business of scavenging. Metals were weighed on the scale and condemned metals were paid for when they're delivered to the measurement center.
Scavengers of Northern Nigeria
The majority of the scavengers are of the Hausa extraction. They move to the South in order to scavenge for condemned metals. The scavengers are usually looking every tattered and dirty. They move from one refuse dump to another. Although due to the lucrative deals that comes from scavenging many other tribes have joined the Hausas to scavenge.
The Economic Benefits for the Scavengers in Nigeria
Most scavengers make at least 3 to 5 thousand everyday, which is far more than want an average Nigeria earn on a daily basis. Since scavenging is lucrative the Hausa man will continue to do it. Am average South-South of indigene will not partake in any dirty job. The Hausas are very hardworking, so they make huge benefits from scavenging.
Scavengers Engaging in Criminal Activities
It didn't start in crime, it started like huzzling but later entered into theft. Since they're picking condemned metals and other items, people allowed them to trespass into their compounds and take some rusted metals. Some persons usually brought out their condemned cooking utensils and spoiled electronics in order to sell them to the scavengers. The scavengers started monitoring people's compound to check if they're around, once they noticed the absence of the owners of the property, they'll enter and steal valuable properties belonging to others. My dad few months ago brought out an air conditioner to give to an electrician to repair before sunset these scavengers trespassed into our compound and stole the air conditioner. Is it cooking utensils, our next door neighbor complained about seeing her cooking pot in the hand of a scavenger who has already kept it out of shape. The most annoying part is their activities during Sunday morning period. Once they noticed that people have gone to church, they'll start their movement into people's compound to steal their belongings. One Sunday afternoon, we noticed that our WC had been stolen. The most recent one I witnessed was the stealing of an armoured cable 🚠🚠🚠 from our street transformer. Causing blackout for more than 7 days before it was replaced by members of the affected community.
What can we do to these scavengers who engage in criminal activities in Nigeria. I just remembered to let us know that there are still innocent scavengers who do steal people's properties. What's you opinion about scavengers in Nigeria. Your comments are highly welcomed and your upvotes too. Thanks for reading through my post.