Assessment of the Activities of Scavengers in Obio/Akpor Local Government, Rivers State, Nigeria

Elenwo Ephraim Ikechukwu^*

Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Social Science, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/jep.2015.63027                

Abstract

This study was carried out based on consistent observations on the activities of scavengers of scrap metal in Obio/Akpor local government Rivers State. The study was carried out to ascertain the profitability of scrap metal scavenging and how scrap metal waste can generate wealth to the public and the government. The study made use of primary and secondary data with the former being the main focus. The data were analyzed using the simple percentage, while the hypothesis was tested by means of the chi-square. The study findings revealed that there was a relationship between waste and wealth in relation to scrap metal scavenging. The researches therefore make the following recommendations; that scavengers should form co-operatives so that they can pull their efforts and resources together and bargain collectively. Government and nongovernmental organization should enlighten them through seminars, workshops, etc., on how to carry out their activities in an environmentally safe manner. The state government should encourage scavenging by enacting a law to back the profession and make it attractive for the teaming youths to venture into.

Keywords

Assessment, Activities, Scavengers, Obio/Akpor

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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