The National President, National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, NASWDEN, Alhaji Fatai Ogunwale, has expressed the support of the association for the Federal Government’s Proposed licencing and regulations of Scrap business.
A statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by its National President, Alhaji Fatai Ogunwale, on Tuesday, stated that the move was also to curb theft and vandalism in the country.Read Daily News
In a Two-Day stakeholders meeting in Lagos, the Federal Government under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Steel Development, had moved to regulate Scrap industry business and operation in Nigeria.
The theme of the event is “Validation of the proposed Scrap metal Collection, Trading, Recycling and Regulations 2026”.
According to the President of the association, the move was targeted at those who engaged themselves in illegally stealing of metals and vandalism of critical infrastructure including electricity cables, railways components and manhole covers amongst others.
He expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the initiative and warned against double taxation scrap metal dealers carrying scraps to end users or rolling mills across the country.
Ogunwale also called on the Federal Government to eradicate touts on our expressways who harrass NASWDEN members ,extort them while going about thier legitimate scrap business.
The President also informed stakeholders that NASWDEN had earlier launched anti Vandalism and currently working with security agencies to protect critical national infrastructure and the nation’s assets.
According to him, the move also involved the issuing of loading inspection confirmation clearance papers to members to check theft and vandalism by criminals parading themselves as scrap dealers.
In his remarks, the Minister of Steel Development, Shuiabu Audu, stated that the framework would establish an organised transparent scrap metal value chain in the country.
The Minister was represented by the Director of Metallurgical Raw Metal Development and Investment Promotion in the ministry, Mr Ime Eprikpo.
“The proposed Scrap metal collection, trading, recycling and regulations 2026, are also expected to improve the supply of the locally sourced raw materials to steal manufacturing companies.
As well as to formalise the activities of scrap dealers and strengthen environment and occupational safety standards, ”he added
I’m his remarks, the Deputy National President of NASWDEN, Comrade Aminu Hassan Soja called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, tackle the issue of alleged attacks on its members by one Uche Ogbu Luke.
According to Soja, Luke is an impostor who allegedly uses armed thugs to intimidate and extort scrap dealers along highways across the South-East and South-South regions of the country.
” We call on the federal government tomurgently intervene and put an end to the activities of one Uche Ogbu Luke, whom he describes as an impostor allegedly using armed thugs to intimidate and extort scrap dealers along highways across the South-East and South-South regions of the country,” he alleged.
He urged the relevant security agencies to “investigate the allegations, apprehend those involved and protect innocent scrap dealers from harassment, intimidation and unlawful extortion”.
