Kano imposes ban on scrap materials from northeastern Nigeria
Kano State government has ordered all scrap dealers to stop bringing waste metals and scrap materials immediately from the northeast regions into the state, according to a Daily Post report.
The state’s commissioner for security and home affairs, AVM Ibrahim Umaru (retired), revealed this on Wednesday in a statement.
The commissioner explained that that the directive became necessary to forestall a repeat of bomb explosions that occurred recently in the state which caused the death five people and injury to others.
According to Umaru, preliminary investigations into the recent explosions showed that the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used were smuggled into the state, hidden among scrap items transported from the Northeast.
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“In light of the recent bomb blasts that tragically claimed five lives and injured several others, we have traced the origin of the explosives to scrap materials brought in from the Northeast,” the commissioner said, adding that “That region has long been affected by Boko Haram activities, and we cannot afford to take any chances.”
He said the ban is immediate, and urged all scrap dealers to observe it, indicating punishments for non-compliance.
“This directive is a preventive measure to protect the lives and property of our citizens,” Umaru added. “All dealers in scrap materials are hereby instructed to immediately stop importing such items from the Northeast. Anyone found violating this order will face the full weight of the law.
“We are not banning the business of scrap entirely,” he clarified. “But bringing them in from high-risk zones without thorough scrutiny endangers everyone,” he said.
