The Kano State Government has placed a temporary ban on the importation of scrap and waste materials originating from Northeastern states, particularly areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The decision follows a deadly explosion at a scrap warehouse along Western Bypass Road and Kofar Ruwa, which resulted in fatalities and property damage.
Announcing the directive, the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Special Services, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umaru (retd), addressed members of the National Association of Scraps and Waste Dealers, Employers of Nigeria, during a meeting.
“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 said.
“Your businesses are important to the state’s economy, but public safety must remain our top priority,” he added.
Umaru called on the association to develop a formal safety policy for sourcing and transporting materials, particularly from volatile regions. He further assured the group that the government would continue to support their operations as long as safety regulations are strictly followed.
Responding to the directive, the association’s Regional President, Aminu Hassan, revealed that members had already halted the purchase of scrap materials from insurgency-hit areas.
“We have taken proactive steps. Our members are no longer sourcing from the Northeast due to the security risks involved,” Hassan stated.
“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 said.
Highlighting the sector’s contribution to the national economy, Hassan noted the heavy reliance of manufacturing companies on recycled materials, citing the prohibitive cost of new raw materials.
“If our trade is halted, many factories will shut down, and thousands of jobs will be lost,” he warned. “We have over 100,000 registered members across the 44 local governments in Kano alone.”
Hassan also distanced the association from the involvement of minors in scavenging, attributing such incidents to a lack of proper parental oversight. He acknowledged the presence of rogue operators within the sector who engage in vandalism and theft but emphasized the association’s collaboration with security agencies to bring offenders to justice.
Board of Trustees member and Chairman of NAK, Akilu Hassan Sardaunan Funtua, stressed the need for stronger cooperation between the association and the state government to foster long-term economic growth.
“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 affirmed.
