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The National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, together with other key industry stakeholders, has introduced a new initiative aimed at registering and documenting their members, with the goal of improving the overall integrity of the scrap industry.
The announcement was made during the Extraordinary Special Delegates Conference of NASWDEN held on Thursday in Abuja. Stakeholders revealed that the initiative comes in response to rising criminal activities linked to unregistered “iron condemn” scavengers, whose actions have damaged the reputation of the industry.
The Eastern Updates reported that the theme of the gathering was “Operation Say No to Vandals and Double Taxation on Our Highway.” In his address, NASWDEN President Mr. John Obeh decried the increase in criminal behavior, particularly the vandalism of infrastructure by those posing as legitimate scrap dealers.
To address these problems, Obeh explained that various state governments have started outlawing scrap scavenging, with some enforcing bans on collectors within residential estates, which has worsened the public’s perception of the profession.
“To address these issues, NASWDEN is embarking on the registration and documentation of all scrap dealers and their operations across Nigeria,” he said.
“This will include creating a nationwide database of registered dealers, which will also feature biometric information for easy identification. NASWDEN will also establish a task force to monitor scrap-bearing vehicles at designated checkpoints nationwide. These checkpoints will inspect trucks for prohibited materials, such as railway tracks, manholes, and energy infrastructure, often targeted by vandals.”
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Obeh clarified that any truck found with these materials will be handed over to the relevant security forces. He further raised concerns about illegal ticketing agents operating on Nigerian highways, who impose excessive and illegal charges on trucks carrying scrap, driving up transportation costs significantly.
Obeh called on the Inspector-General of Police to assist in addressing this issue, which he said undermines the federal government’s ease of doing business policy.
The NASWDEN President urged the Ministry of Steel Development to collaborate with the association to ensure that steel industries work with its members to achieve shared objectives.
He also appealed to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria to support NASWDEN’s efforts by working together to secure a steady supply of metal scrap and waste materials for manufacturing.
NASWDEN introduced a new initiative at the conference by inaugurating a special task force, “Operation Say No to Vandalism,” focused on eliminating criminal activities and addressing the problem of multiple tax impositions on highways.
Obeh urged the Federal Government to contribute by providing operational vehicles and logistical support, emphasizing the importance of these resources for the cleanup operations in the Federal Capital Territory.
He further called on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as the police, to lend their support in ensuring the safety and security of the task force’s operations.
