By James Ogunnaike

A bill seeking to regulate the activities of scavengers and waste dealers in Ogun State has scaled second reading on the floor of the Assembly after the State lawmakers debated extensively on the desirability of the bill.

The bill sponsored by Babatunde Tella, aimed to promote public order, environmental safety and peaceful co-existence.

Opening debate on the bill titled: “H.B. №020/ OG/ 2025 — Scavengers and Waste Dealers Regulation Law, 2025”, Tella noted that the legislation was aimed at addressing the growing concerns regarding the activities of scavengers and waste dealers in the State.

He explained that the bill became imperative given the security concerns the activities of the scavengers had continued to generate in recent times; saying when operational, the legislation would promote public order by regulating scavenging activities to specific hours (8:00 am — 5:00 pm) and prohibiting operations on Sundays.

The lawmaker added that the proposed law would empower communities in restricting scavenger operations in their areas, ensuring transactions occur outside restricted zones; while promoting accountability by mandating the registration of all scavengers with the Ministry of Environment in collaboration with law enforcement and community leaders.

According to the Hon. Tella, “it would enhance safety by fostering collaboration between scavenger task forces and community task forces; while discouraging unlawful enforcement or jungle justice”.

He added that “the proposed law would protect the environment by creating a structured and monitored framework for waste recycling and disposal; just as it would propose penalties for violations, ensure lawful enforcement, tasking the Ministry of Environment with monitoring and sensitizing stakeholders on compliance”.

The sponsor of the bill stated that when passed, “it would set a benchmark for environmental safety, community harmony, and sustainable waste management practices, urging his co-lawmakers to support its passage to safeguard the communities and environment”.

Other lawmakers who spoke in favour of the bill including Honourables Samsideen Lawal, Adebisi Oyedele, Adeyanju Adegoke, Damilola Soneye, Olusegun Kaka Odunuga and Waliu Owode explained that it was important to streamline the activities of scavengers in the State to enhance security of lives and property, saying the menace being constituted by the scavengers was fast becoming a national concern.

They added that bill would ensure clear identification of scavengers in any community through designated uniform, reduce incidents of burglary and theft, including Kidnapping and other associated vices and prevent jungle justice within communities in the State.

Responding, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, commended his colleague-lawmakers for their robust contributions to the debate, noting that the scavengers’ activities had become a national menace that needed to be confronted headlong, so as to prevent cases of outright burglary/ robbery and damage to public infrastructure by the scavengers.

He later committed the bill to the House Committee on Environment for further legislative work.

In a related development, a bill for a law to establish young farmers club at basic and senior secondary schools in the State and other related matters sailed through first reading on the floor of the Assembly as the Clerk/ Head of Legislative Service, Mr. Sakiru Adebakin took the first reading before the State lawmakers.