The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at curbing the theft and vandalism of public infrastructure by tightening controls over the scrap metal industry. The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Steel Development, seeks to address widespread issues involving the illegal removal of electrical cables, railway components, and manhole covers, which have caused significant disruptions to public services and economic losses.
Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, outlined the details during a two-day stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos focused on validating the draft 2026 Scrap Metal Regulations. Speaking through the Director of the Metallurgical Raw Material Development and Investment Promotion Department, Ime Eprikpo, the Minister stated that the proposed regulations would establish a transparent and sustainable value chain to support Nigeria’s industrialization drive. He emphasized that scrap metal is a critical raw material for steel production and foundry operations, noting that effective recycling could reduce waste, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth.
The proposed Scrap Metal (Collection, Trading, Recycling and Regulation) Regulations are designed to introduce licensing and supervision for operators, regulate collection and aggregation centers, and ensure transaction traceability. The framework also aims to enforce environmental and occupational safety standards. Minister Audu clarified that the objective is not to suppress legitimate commercial activity but to create a system where lawful businesses operate with clarity, while activities involving stolen materials or environmental harm are addressed through legal measures.
“Our objective is not to suppress legitimate commercial activity. Rather, it is to establish a system in which lawful businesses can operate with greater clarity and confidence, while activities involving stolen materials, unsafe practices or environmental harm are addressed through appropriate regulatory and legal measures,” Minister Audu said.
Addressing concerns about market access, the Minister stressed that small-scale operators would not be excluded from the regulatory framework, with requirements tailored to the size and risks of their specific businesses. He called for stronger supplier identification, verification of material sources, and collaboration with security agencies to prevent the illegal acquisition and trading of stolen metals. The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Amb. Nura Abba Rimi, represented by Christopher T. Wanje, added that effective regulation is critical to building a competitive and self-sustaining steel sector while protecting public infrastructure.
Industry stakeholders responded positively to the initiative. Comrade Pastor Engr. Ogbu Luke Uchechukwu, National President of the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, described the engagement as a landmark development for organizing the industry. Dr. Innocent Bariate Bariko, Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), warned that inadequate regulation poses serious risks to public health and the environment, commending the ministry for initiating the framework. Busari Olanrewaju, Business Manager of Kam Steel Integrated Company Ltd, pledged support through training scrap collectors, implementing standardised grading procedures, and increasing the use of locally generated scrap in domestic steel production.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
