The Kano State Government has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of scrap and waste materials from Northeastern states, especially those affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The move follows a recent explosion at a scrap warehouse located along Western Bypass Road and Kofar Ruwa, which claimed lives and destroyed property.
The directive was issued by the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Special Services, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umaru (retd), during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Scraps and Waste Dealers, Employers of Nigeria.
“We cannot allow a repeat of such a tragic incident. There must be thorough checks to ensure that no explosive materials are smuggled into Kano in the name of scrap,” AVM Umaru stated.
“Your businesses are important to the state’s economy, but public safety must remain our top priority.”
Umaru urged members of the association to draft a written policy detailing safety measures for sourcing and transporting materials, especially from volatile regions.
He assured them that the state government would continue to protect their interests, provided they adhere to safety regulations.
In response, the Regional President of the association, Aminu Hassan, disclosed that his members had already ceased purchasing scrap materials from insurgency-prone areas.
“We have taken proactive steps. Our members are no longer sourcing from the Northeast due to the security risks involved,” Hassan said.
“We want to remain responsible partners in progress. But we also urge the Kano State government to support us in sustaining our business operations.”
He emphasized the vital role scrap dealers play in the country’s manufacturing sector, noting that many companies rely solely on recycled materials due to the high cost of new ones.
“If our trade is halted, many factories will shut down, and thousands of jobs will be lost,” Hassan warned. “We have over 100,000 registered members across the 44 local governments in Kano alone.”
While disassociating the group from the use of minors as scavengers, Hassan blamed the situation on poor parental guidance.
He also admitted that some rogue elements within the trade had engaged in vandalism and theft, but stressed that the association had worked closely with security agencies to apprehend offenders.
Akilu Hassan Sardaunan Funtua, a member of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of NAK, called for stronger collaboration between the association and the state government to ensure sustainable economic development.
“We are committed to safeguarding lives and property, and we are ready to work with the authorities to prevent any recurrence of this nature,” the Regional President assured.