Scavengers strip Lagos bridges, homes in widespread theft

In Lagos, scrap-metal scavengers, known as "iron condemned" pickers, have expanded their activities to include bridges, buildings, and homes. Armed with cutting tools, they remove reinforcement rods and strip roofing sheets from concrete structures, selling the materials as scrap metal for as much as N10,000 per kilogramme. This trend is particularly concerning in areas like Festac Town, where public and private infrastructure has been targeted.

A church in the area, for instance, had its structural integrity compromised when thieves stole reinforcement rods from its pillars and decking. Another building, previously owned by Standard Chartered Bank, suffered extensive vandalism, with scavengers hacking into walls, stealing electrical wiring, and pulling out embedded wires.

The scavengers show little regard for safety, potentially weakening structures and creating disaster risks. Structural engineers warn of the dangers posed by the expanding scrap-metal trade, which they attribute to weak security systems and poor enforcement. One pastor suggested that such acts constitute economic sabotage and proposed that government authorities shoot on sight anyone caught committing these crimes.