Posted by Samuel on Fri 17th Jan, 2025 - tori.ng
The term ‘pantaker’ (or ‘panta taker’) is commonly used in Nigerian Pidgin English and refers to individuals who engage in the business of collecting and buying used or discarded items, often for resale or recycling.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Tunji Disu, has instructed all scrap dealers, junk collectors, recyclers, and others engaged in ‘pantaker’ businesses within the territory to report for profiling.
The term ‘pantaker’ (or ‘panta taker’) is commonly used in Nigerian Pidgin English and refers to individuals who engage in the business of collecting and buying used or discarded items, often for resale or recycling.
These items can include scrap metal, plastic, old electronics, and other secondhand goods. Pantakers often operate in informal sectors, contributing to waste management and resource recovery.
In a broader sense, the term can sometimes describe anyone involved in the trade of secondhand goods.
Meanwhile, according to the commissioner, the move is aimed at identifying and regulating individuals involved in these operations within the territory.
The commissioner who made this known during an inspection to some ‘pantaker’ markets in the FCT in a joint operation with other sister agencies on Thursday, gave them two weeks to comply with the directive.
He asserted that during this period, all ‘pantaker’ businesses are to remain closed to facilitate the profiling exercise.
“We want to know who and who are operating in all the pantakers,” CP Disu stated. “This exercise is essential for security and proper monitoring.”
The commissioner also affirmed that scavenging activities within the FCT has been ban.
According to him, scavengers will only be allowed to operate at designated dumps located outside the city.
“We don’t want scavengers moving around the town. If they are seen, call us, and they will be arrested,” he said.
The measures are part of ongoing efforts to enhance security and orderliness in the FCT, according to the authorities.
Earlier in January, the FCT police command said its operatives had arrested no fewer than 50 suspects for vandalism and theft of manhole covers within the territory.
It was learnt that the suspects were arrested at various "pantaka" hotspots in Kabusa, Garki, Mabushi and Wuse areas of the territory.
Panteka is a term commonly used in Nigeria to refer to informal markets or areas where secondhand goods, spare parts, and scrap materials are sold
According to the police, about 25 manhole covers, three vehicles, vandalised solar streetlights, galvanised rods used in the construction of flyovers, and other tools used in vandalising government installations and several other exhibits were also recovered during the operation.