Abia State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, has described the scrap industry as a strategic sector in the development of Nigeria’s circular economy, calling for proper regulation, registration and licensing of scrap metal operators.
Ogbonna made the statement on Wednesday in Asaba, Delta State, during a workshop organised by the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria (NASWDEN).
The Commissioner said the government does not regard legitimate scrap metal trading as an enemy of economic development, but rather as an important component of Nigeria’s economy that must be properly organised to prevent criminals from using the industry as a cover for theft and vandalism.
According to him, government institutions, individuals, households and communities have continued to lose valuable property and critical infrastructure to criminals operating under the guise of scavenging.
He noted that the destruction of public infrastructure and private property through theft and vandalism poses a threat to economic development.
The Abia Environment Commissioner advocated the registration and licensing of all scrap metal operators as a way of sanitising the industry, identifying legitimate operators and preventing lawful scrap dealers from being wrongly associated with criminals.
“Government must know who is operating within the sector, while legitimate operators must be identifiable and protected from being lumped together with criminals,” he stated.
Ogbonna also urged scrap dealers to exercise greater diligence when purchasing scrap materials, warning that criminal elements could exploit weak verification processes to sell stolen property through the legitimate scrap market.
The Commissioner disclosed that the Abia State Government has recognised the economic importance of legitimate scrap trading and has developed the SCRAP METAL POLICY in Abia, with implementation domiciled in the Ministry of Environment. He said the state government would soon commence the registration and licensing of operators across the various categories of the scrap-metal value chain, alongside the collection of haulage fees on scrap-metal movements.
Ogbonna stressed that the policy is not designed to undermine the scrap business but to organise the sector in a way that would deliver greater benefits to operators and the Abia State Government.
“The objective of the policy is not to kill the industry, but to organise it for greater benefits to both the operators and the Abia State government”, he stated
Ogbonna highlighted the roles of government agencies, security organisations, traditional rulers and communities in ensuring that the scrap-metal industry operates smoothly and responsibly. He urged NASWDEN to support government efforts by helping to identify legitimate operators, promoting compliance, training its members and encouraging proper record-keeping.
He further called on scrap dealers to make it increasingly difficult for stolen or privately owned property to enter the legitimate scrap market.
The Commissioner said the future of the scrap industry should be defined by recycling, resource recovery, entrepreneurship, environmental responsibility and industrial development, rather than theft, vandalism and the destruction of critical infrastructure.
The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders in the scrap and waste management sector to discuss ways of improving businesses within the sector, and contributing to Nigeria’s circular economy.
