Borno state governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has said the state has lost public infrastructure, electrical materials and metals worth billions of naira to scrap metal scavengers, popularly known as Ajakuta.
Zulum said the losses, coupled with security threats associated with the activities of some operators, prompted his administration to impose a ban on scrap metal trading across the state.
The governor disclosed this on Saturday while addressing scrap metal operators, urging them to submit proposals on how they could continue their businesses without compromising security or contributing to the destruction of public infrastructure.
He explained that the ban was not intended to deprive legitimate operators of their livelihoods but to protect public assets and address security challenges confronting the state.
According to him, the government has no personal interest in shutting down the businesses of scrap metal dealers but is concerned about the implications of their activities for public safety and infrastructure development.
Zulum cited the loss of electrical wires installed along the Damaturu-Maiduguri electricity distribution line, noting that the state had invested more than N3 billion in the project.
“We spent more than N3 billion to connect an electricity distribution line from Damaturu to Maiduguri, but unfortunately, we lost all the wires to the metal scavenging activities,” the governor said.
He also expressed concern over the dangers faced by scrap metal scavengers, disclosing that hundreds of operators had reportedly been killed while searching for metals in villages considered unsafe for civilian activities before the ban.
The governor further alleged that security intelligence available to the government indicated that insurgents were using scrap metal trading platforms to dispose of looted materials.
“We have security intelligence that even the insurgents use your platforms to sell looted metals. So, no responsible government will ignore such intelligence just to be politically correct,” he said.
Despite the security concerns, Zulum said the government remained open to proposals that would enable legitimate operators to continue their businesses under arrangements that would not threaten public safety or critical infrastructure.
He acknowledged the economic importance of the scrap metal trade and the livelihoods it supports but maintained that the government had a responsibility to prevent the destruction of public assets and activities that could undermine security.
In a move to cushion the impact of the ban on genuine operators, the governor granted a waiver allowing them to evacuate scrap metal stocks accumulated before the restriction at designated locations.
The concession is expected to provide temporary relief to affected traders while the government considers possible regulatory measures to accommodate legitimate businesses without compromising security.
The governor urged the operators to cooperate with the government and develop workable proposals that would address the concerns behind the ban while protecting their economic interests.