Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has issued a directive mandating all scrap and waste dealers across the state’s 25 local government areas to register with the state government, aiming to sanitize the trade and curb the growing vandalism of public and private properties.
The governor announced the order during a meeting with leaders of the Scrap and Waste Dealers Association, Niger State chapter, held at the Government House in Minna. This meeting was a follow-up to previous discussions focused on finding lasting solutions to persistent vandalism and theft across the state.
To ensure effective monitoring, the registration process will require scrap dealers to provide their residential and business addresses, Bank Verification Number (BVN), and National Identity Number (NIN). The government will support the process by supplying biometric devices to aid accurate registration. Only registered dealers will receive operating licenses to continue their business activities legally.
Governor Bago further warned that persons under 18 years old are prohibited from picking scraps in the state. He added that anyone found possessing stolen public or private property would face decisive action.
The governor also announced a final meeting scheduled for Thursday this week, where the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, will inaugurate the elected chairpersons of the scrap and waste dealers associations from all 25 local governments. These chairpersons will work directly with the Governor’s Coordinator on Scrap, Abdusallam Sa’ad, to combat vandalism more effectively.
Abdusallam Sa’ad, the Governor’s Coordinator on Scrap, praised Governor Bago’s leadership, describing him as the most supportive governor to scrap dealers in the state’s history. He urged scrap dealers to adhere strictly to the law and explained that registration forms will be provided by his office, with fees paid into a government account.
Muhammad Ahmad Ali, Chairman of the National Association of Scrap and Waste Employers, Niger State chapter, read the association’s rules and regulations during the meeting. These include screening all current and prospective members, requiring a guarantor and valid identification, and imposing strict penalties on those involved in theft or handling stolen goods.
The meeting was interactive, with stakeholders proposing ways to identify and remove unscrupulous operators from the scrap trade.
