Scrap Economy and Implications in A Regressed Economy Ukegbu, Ezionyinye Ebere
Abstract
This study examines how scrap business in Aba, Abia State constitutes a disguised crime or a sign of acute economic degradation of a town where unemployment is high. It has become a common place to see people roughly dressed with bags hung at the back sniffing both on the grounds and rubbish dumps in search of scraps whether metals or plastics from the year 2000 till date. It is called ‘akpakara business’, engaged by the illiterate and stray children desiring to make ends meet. Scraps are unavoidable wastages which manufacturers and families strive to minimize. Scraps constitutes environmental hazards and measures are usually put in place to minimize its occurrence to the barest minimum. However, criminals are hiding under the guise of buying scraps to perpetrate crimes. Some persons engage in this type of activity as a results of worsening economic condition resulting in unimaginable high rate of unemployment. The scrap industry contradicts the Igbo industrial philosophy where occupation is dignifying and not denigrate on the practitioner. The methodology adopted is simply a critical analysis of extant literature on scrap and waste management, observation, and oral interviews with participants players in scrap business (akpakara). The study observed that people indulge in scavenging for scraps as a result of worsening economic condition resulting in high rate of unemployment and collapse of many businesses. The study recommends appropriate policy formulation by the state government that would equip her citizens with skills and make available take off capitals to start up businesses which would help reduce high unemployment rate. It equally recommends that the state government can put a halt to this business through appropriate policy formulation that would encourage the establishment of manufacturing industries in order to engage the citizens meaningfully.
