From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
The National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, NASWDEN has dissociated itself from the recent explosion in Gubio town of Borno state.
Recall that in January, there was an explosion of an improvised Explosive Device, IED, that killed four Quranic School Pupils (Almajiris) and two adults in Gubio local government area of Borno State.
Confirming the incident, the council chairman of Gubio, Alhaji Mali Gubio, said the incident happened in an uncompleted building around 11am, on Saturday, 27th January, 2024.
Mr Gubio said many people believed that metal scavengers unknowingly collected and stored the active IED along with other metal in the building close to the Quranic school (Tsagaya).
However, this assertion did not go down well with NASWDEN as it dissociated itself from the incident.
Speaking at a press conference in Kano on Monday, the Regional President of the association, Comrade Aminu Hassan Soja, said they received the news of the incident with shockwave as the report of some media houses associated it with an unknown scavenger that stored various metallic items in a building close to Almajiri school.
Mr Soja wondered why the incident was linked to metallic object stored by scavengers while according to him, the Borno state government had since banned the activities of scavenging and scrap business in the state.
“It is worth noting that the Borno State Government has ban scavenging, and any sort of scrap and waste dealing activity in Borno State since July, 2023 and being law abiding Association, NASWDEN refrain from any dealing thereof in Borno State and also calls on its member to abide by the directives, consequent upon which members of the Association clogged all dealings relating to scrap and waste in the State.”
He noted that, “Following the reports of some media houses as painted above regarding the incident, the Association conducted an in-depth investigation and made thorough enquiries aiming at discovering the facts and realities surrounding the incident and it was found that some of the reports were delineated out of some misconceived informations.”
“ The investigation revealed that the Explosive Device has detonated in a building close to one Almajiri School (Tsangaya) but it has no any connection with scavenging scrap or waste occupational dealings as all members of the Association desist from any activity relating to scrap or waste pursuant to the ban issued by the Borno State Government. “ The Regional President, explained that the association’s request for audience with Borno state government to table and resolve some topical issues bedeviling them but could not yet be granted.
Mr Soja therefore categorically dissociated NASWDEN with the blast, stressing the association’s commitment to support any decision taken by the government in its bid to ensure long lasting peace in the state.
He also used the opportunity to appeal to the Borno state government to lift the ban on scrap and waste trade and dealings with a view to revive the economy of the state, corporate entities and individuals.
According to Mr Soja, over 500 people had lost job following the ban on scrap business in the state, expressing worry that the decision had adverse effects on them and their families.
“The ban has crippled the economy of significant number of individuals, firms and corporate entities within and outside the State and it is threatening the survival of numerous law abiding citizens especially at this awful moment of economic and financial hardship.
“ It is evinced that scrap and waste remain indispensable raw materials for production and fabrication of different essential products and commodities locally and internationally.
The Association also appealed to Borno State Government to lift ban on the federal roads that link the state with neighboring countries, which according to the it, serve as the major trade route for importation of scraps through the Channels as the ban is threatening the Economy of the State and the Nation, adding that it also frightens the survival of some firms and corporate entities.
“While commending the efforts of Borno State Government in guaranteeing the safety of the State and improving the security situation, the Association also calls on the Government to augment such efforts with feasible and realistic mechanisms.
“The Association also calls on the Government of Borno state to form a stakeholders committee which will comprise of experts and professionals in different aspects of human endeavours to prepare an operational Blueprint for scrap and waste activities in the State,” Mr Soja concluded.
