Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has said metal scavengers stole all the wires purchased for an electricity distribution line linking Damaturu, Yobe State, to Maiduguri, resulting in the loss of infrastructure valued at more than ₦3 billion.
The governor said the incident, alongside security concerns over the activities of scrap metal dealers, informed the state government’s decision to ban the scrap metal trade in Borno State.
Zulum disclosed this on Saturday while addressing metal scavengers and business operators in Maiduguri, according to a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Technical Assistant on Print and Digital Communications, Abdulrahman Bundi.
“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,” Zulum said.
He explained that the restriction was introduced to protect public infrastructure and address security threats, rather than to deprive legitimate traders of their livelihoods.
The governor also raised concerns about the dangers scavengers face in areas where civilian activities remain unsafe, saying many had lost their lives while searching for scrap metals in villages affected by insecurity.
“Before the ban, hundreds of your members were killed in the process of scavenging for metals in the villages that are not yet safe for civilian activities,” he said.
Zulum further alleged that security intelligence linked some metal scavengers to insurgents who use scrap metal businesses to dispose of stolen 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,” the governor said.
He acknowledged the economic impact of the ban on scrap metal dealers, stressing that the government had no personal interest in shutting down their businesses but was concerned about protecting lives, public assets and security.
“It is deeply concerning to me if one person loses his livelihood for whatever reason in Borno; believe me, there is nothing I stand to gain from banning scrap metal trade rather than addressing the serious security concerns associated with your activities,” he added.
Bundi said the governor had granted a waiver allowing traders to evacuate scrap metal stocks accumulated before the ban from designated locations. The measure is intended to reduce the immediate impact of the restriction on existing businesses.
Zulum also urged scrap metal operators to submit proposals outlining how they could continue their businesses without facilitating insecurity or damaging public infrastructure.
