The Kano State government has banned the importation of scrap and waste materials from the northeast following recent explosions linked to such goods.
According to a Channel News report, the announcement was made by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Special Services, retired Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umaru, during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Scraps and Waste Dealers of Nigeria.
Umaru said the ban became necessary after a deadly blast at a warehouse along Western Bypass Road and Kofar Ruwa. The explosion reportedly came from materials brought into the state from regions affected by Boko Haram activities.
He explained that the government took the decision to protect lives and properties, urging the scrap dealers to set up proper checks to ensure that no explosive materials are hidden inside what they transport.
He said, “As Kano State will continue to protect your interest and your business, you should come up with a written policy and plans that will boost your business.”
The commissioner asked the dealers to help the government avoid such dangerous incidents by being more careful about what materials they accept and bring into the state.
In response, the regional president of the association, Comrade Aminu Hassan, also known as Sarkin Karafan Kasar Hausa, told the commissioner that they had already stopped buying scraps from the northeast since the explosions.
He promised that the group would continue to follow the law and work with the state government. Hassan also appealed for government support to help grow their business.
He said, “Most companies in the country depend solely on scrap materials for production, as they cannot afford to buy new ones. If our business is stopped, many of these companies may shut down.”
According to him, the association was set up under the Trade Union Law of 2004 and is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity. He noted that the scrap business gives jobs to many unemployed youths in the state and that the group has more than 100,000 registered members across Kano’s 44 local councils.
Hassan admitted there are some problems within the industry. He said some members bring in underage children as scavengers, which the association does not support. He blamed the issue on poor parenting and called for awareness and regulation.
He also revealed that a few bad elements in the business have been caught buying stolen items or vandalising property, but added that the association works with security agents to catch and punish such people.
Another leader of the association, Alhaji Akilu Hassan Sardaunan Funtua, who is also a member of the board of trustees, said they are ready to work with the state government to prevent more explosions.
He promised that the association would do its part to ensure peace, safety, and continued business growth in Kano.
