Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has said the state has lost infrastructure, electrical materials and metals worth billions of naira to metal scavengers, locally known as Ajakuta, citing the losses and security risks as reasons for the ban on scrap metal trading in the state.
Zulum, who disclosed this at the weekend while addressing operators in the trade, urged them to submit proposals on how they could continue their businesses without undermining security or destroying public infrastructure.
He said the ban was introduced in the overall interest of the state and was not intended to deprive traders of their livelihoods, stressing that the government had no personal interest in shutting down their businesses.
The governor, however, said the scale of infrastructure losses and the dangers associated with scavenging in insecure communities had made government intervention necessary.
“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,” he said.
Zulum added that the trade had also exposed scavengers to deadly risks, particularly in communities where civilian activities remained unsafe because of 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.
The governor said he was concerned about the economic consequences of the prohibition for traders and their families, insisting that protecting livelihoods remained a consideration in the government’s approach.
“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 said.
He called on operators to engage with the government and propose workable alternatives that would enable legitimate scrap metal businesses to continue without providing opportunities for the destruction of public assets or activities that could compromise security.
The consultation signals the government’s willingness to consider proposals from affected traders, provided any arrangement addresses the security concerns that prompted the ban.
Borno, which has endured years of insurgency by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, continues to face challenges in restoring public infrastructure and economic activities in communities affected by the conflict. The governor’s remarks underscore the difficulties of protecting public investments while creating opportunities for residents to earn a living.
Michael Olugbode
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