A division has emerged within the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, popularly known as Ajakuta, over Borno State’s metal scavenging policy, with the state chapter distancing itself from claims by the national leadership and backing Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s reform measures.
The state chapter said it welcomed the governor’s decision in good faith and was ready to cooperate with the government to regulate the scrap trade as authorities review restrictions on the business.
The State Chairman of the association, Umar Usman, stated this on Wednesday when he led members of the state executive on a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Committee to Review the Ban on Metal Scavenging in Borno State, Hon. Nasiru Ali Surundi, in Maiduguri.
“We welcome the Governor’s decision in good faith and dissociate ourselves from the claims made by our national body and some individuals. As law-abiding citizens, we support the state government’s efforts to regulate our activities,” Usman said.
The declaration puts the Borno chapter at odds with statements attributed to the association’s national leadership and some individuals, although the specific claims being disputed were not disclosed.
Usman commended Zulum for his intervention and pledged the association’s cooperation with the review committee, expressing optimism that the proposed reforms would benefit scrap dealers and other residents affected by the restrictions.
Responding, Surundi welcomed the state chapter’s clarification and defended the government’s measures, insisting that the policy was designed to sanitise the scrap business rather than frustrate legitimate operators.
“The measures introduced by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum are aimed at sanitising the scrap business for the benefit of our people. We urge the association’s national leadership to verify its facts before making public claims,” he said.
Other members of the delegation endorsed Usman’s position and pledged their support for the state government’s decision.
The development follows Zulum’s announcement barely a week earlier of a temporary lifting of the ban on scrap scavenging, alongside plans to develop a roadmap for a broader review of the restrictions.
The policy review seeks to address the competing interests surrounding the scrap trade, which provides livelihoods for dealers and collectors but has also raised concerns about the theft of metals, vandalism of public infrastructure and the possible sale of stolen materials.
For scrap dealers, the proposed regulatory framework could provide a pathway to resume legitimate business activities disrupted by the restrictions. For the government, the challenge is to reopen the sector without creating opportunities for criminal operators to profit from stolen metals or damage essential infrastructure.
Although details of the proposed roadmap were not provided, its implementation is expected to shape the future of the trade in the state.
With the Borno chapter pledging its cooperation, attention is now focused on whether the review committee can establish workable regulations that protect legitimate businesses, safeguard public assets and distinguish law-abiding operators from those involved in illicit activities.
