Abia State government has moved to address the theft of government and private properties by scavengers and other illegal scrap dealers.

The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Trade and Investment have designed strategies to curb the the criminal activities of illegal dealers, which include registration, obtaining of Corporate Affairs Commission certificates and Abia State Social Identification Number.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna, who addressed members of the Scrap Metal Association in Umuahia, expressed worry about the theft of government properties like manhole covers, school properties and others,  pointing out that scavengers and metal scrap dealers in the state should operate  within legal frameworks.

Ogbonna listed the regulations to include  registration, enforcement and community collaboration, and urged community leaders in the state to monitor the activities of the scavengers in their localities.

Also, the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Kingsley Chibueze Nwokocha, told the scrap dealers to formally register their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and obtain Abia State  Social Identification Number, ABSSIN to ensure transparency.

He asked dealers to organize themselves  well to verify the identity and source of materials brought in by scavengers which he said, would prevent the sales of stolen public infrastructure.

Responding on behalf of Scrap Metal Association, Mr. Chukwudi Onwukaeme and Mr. Okeke Ogwuegbu welcomed the initiative, affirming their readiness to cooperate with the state government to identify and sack bad eggs in the scrap business.

A senior official from Access Bank has detailed how billions of naira allegedly originating from various Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kogi State were funneled into private accounts through suspicious transactions during the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello.

Testifying before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, Ofure Achille, former Head of Operations at Access Bank’s Lokoja branch, said the suspicious cash lodgments and withdrawals occurred over several years and were flagged and reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

Ms. Achille is the seventh prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Ali Bello, a nephew to former Governor Bello and current Chief of Staff to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo. He is facing 18 counts of money laundering involving the alleged diversion of N3 billion belonging to Kogi State.

Also standing trial are Abba Adaudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, and Rashida Bello—accused of using shell companies and personal accounts to move massive sums.

The bank official testified that multiple transactions involving hundreds of millions of naira were inconsistent with the financial profiles of the account holders.

She cited examples including the E-Traders account operated by Jamilu Abdulahi, into which N30 million was deposited over two consecutive days in December 2021, followed by N40 million and another N30 million in early 2022.

“These transactions were flagged and reported to the NFIU as Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) under anti-money laundering laws,” she said.

Achille also revealed that accounts linked to co-defendants—including Fazab Business Enterprise and Hyzman Ary Construction Limited—received substantial funds from various Kogi LGAs. She noted that on 29 August 2017, Ary Construction received inflows totaling N171 million, with the first deposit of only N10,000 earlier that day.

The EFCC’s lead prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), led the witness through documentary evidence detailing patterns of deposits and withdrawals that allegedly reflect the laundering of public funds.

The trial continues before Justice Obiora Egwatu as prosecutors build their case against the defendants in what has become one of the most high-profile corruption trials in recent years.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that Nigeria is currently primed for investment, thanks to the sweeping reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) led by Hammad Hundal, Head of its Regional Hub, Shettima highlighted the administration’s efforts to eliminate past barriers that deterred investors.

“This is truly a great time to invest in Nigeria,” Shettima said at the State House in Abuja. “We are addressing grey areas that previously served as disincentives. President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is creating a stable, business-friendly environment.”

The Vice President emphasized the government’s commitment to reform in key sectors including human capital development, agriculture, health, education, and digital trade, noting that these are priority areas that align with the country’s economic recovery and long-term growth.

He called for continued collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank, urging the institution to deepen support for strategic initiatives like the Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ), the i-DICE (Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises) program, and the development of a Halal economy in Nigeria.

“I encourage the inclusion of digital trade, Halal economy development, and financial inclusion in your Country Engagement Framework (CEF),” Shettima told the delegation. “Let’s build on our shared progress.”

Obioma Asuzu, the bank’s Country Economist, presented the CEF during the meeting. The framework outlines the bank’s strategic objectives in Nigeria, focusing on economic recovery, poverty reduction, resilience, and sustainable green growth—all aligned with national priorities.

In response, Hundal reaffirmed IsDB’s commitment to expanding its support in Nigeria, particularly in energy security, private sector development, and infrastructure.

The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between Nigeria and the IsDB, underscoring both sides’ shared vision of inclusive growth and development.