The Borno State chapter of the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria popularly called AJAKUTA has distanced itself from claims by its national body and some individuals regarding the state government’s recent decision on scrap scavenging.
The state chairman Umar Usman made the association’s position known on Wednesday when he led other executive members on a courtesy visit to the chairman of the Committee to Review the Ban on Metal Scavenging in Borno State Hon. Nasiru Ali Surundi in Maiduguri.
Mal. Usman welcomed Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s decision describing it as a positive step towards restoring members’ livelihoods and ensuring orderly business operations.
‘We welcome the Governor’s decision in good faith and dissociate ourselves from the claims made by our national body and some individuals. As law-abiding citizens we support the state government’s efforts to regulate our activities’ Usman said.
He thanked the Governor for supporting the association’s members and other residents of the state pledging cooperation with the committee towards implementing the government’s reforms.
Responding Hon. Surundi commended the association for clarifying its position explaining that the government’s measures were intended to sanitise the scrap business for the benefit of dealers and the wider public.
‘The measures introduced by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum are aimed at sanitising the scrap business for the benefit of our people. We urge the association’s national leadership to verify its facts before making public claims’ Surundi said.
Other members of the delegation endorsed their chairman’s position and pledged support for the state government’s decision.
The visit came barely a week after Governor Zulum announced the temporary lifting of the ban on scrap scavenging and began developing a proposed roadmap towards lifting the ban.