By Aminu Garko
The National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, has exonerate themselves from the recent Bomb Blast in Gubio town of Borno State, where many lives were claimed by the explosive devices.
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 the incident with an unknown scavenger that stored various metallic items in a building close to Almajiri School in Gubio Town of Borno 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 notes 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 uses every avenue to request for the audience of Borno State Government to table and resolve some topical issues bedeviling the them.
That the Association also seeks the indulgence of Borno State Government to lift the ban on scrap and waste trade and dealings with a view to revive the economy of the state and affected corporate entities and individuals.
Soja worried that the banned, 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.
They also appeals to Borno State Government to lift ban on the federal roads that link the state with neighboring countries which 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.
“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.
“We affirms our support, loyalty and allegiances to the Government and ready to complement the Government’s efforts in enhancing the economic vivacity and eradication of all forms of crime and undesirable elements.”
They further praises the proactive measures taken by Borno State Government in addressing security challenges and constrains bedeviling state and the country by extension, and observed with acute attention the significance of such decisive and tactical measures.
