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, North East Nigeria.
At a press conference in Kano North West Nigeria, the Regional President of the association, Aminu Hassan Soja, said they received the news of the incident with great shock as the report from some section of the media associated the incident 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 information.”
He said, the investigation revealed that the Explosive Device was 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 seeking audience with Borno state government was unsuccessful to table and resolve some topical issues bedeviling them.
Mr Soja therefore 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.”
Recalled that, in January 2024, 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.
Dominica Nwabufo
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