Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has disclosed that the state has lost metals, electrical materials and public infrastructure worth billions of naira to scrap metal scavengers, locally known as Ajakuta.
Key Highlights
- Zulum says Borno lost infrastructure worth billions to scrap metal scavengers.
- Wires on a ₦3bn Damaturu–Maiduguri power line were stripped.
- Intelligence shows insurgents sell looted metals through scrap platforms, he says.
- Operators asked to submit proposals to trade within security guidelines.
- Waiver granted to evacuate scrap stocks gathered before the ban.
Zulum said the losses, alongside security concerns linked to the activities of some operators, informed the state government’s decision to ban scrap metal trading.
The governor disclosed this on Saturday, while addressing scrap metal operators, urging them to submit proposals on how they could continue their businesses without undermining security or destroying public infrastructure.
He explained that the ban was introduced in the overall interest of the state and was not intended to deprive legitimate operators of their means of livelihood.
According to him, the government has no personal interest in shutting down their businesses but is concerned about protecting public assets and addressing security threats.
₦3bn Power Line Stripped
Zulum said the state had spent more than ₦3 billion to connect an electricity distribution line from Damaturu to Maiduguri, only for the wires to be removed through metal scavenging activities.
“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.
The governor also expressed concern over the dangers faced by scavengers, disclosing that hundreds of operators had been killed while searching for scrap metals in villages considered unsafe for civilian activities before the ban.
Insurgents Using Scrap Trade
He further alleged that security intelligence indicated that insurgents were using scrap metal trading platforms to sell looted metals.
“We have security intelligence that even the insurgents use your platforms to sell looted metals. So, no responsible government will ignore such intelligence just to be politically correct,” Zulum said.
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Waiver for Existing Stocks
Despite the restrictions, the governor reiterated his concern for the welfare of operators, stressing that the government was willing to consider proposals that would allow legitimate businesses to continue within acceptable security guidelines.
He said the government recognised the economic importance of the trade but maintained that public safety and the protection of critical infrastructure remained priorities.
As part of measures to ease the impact of the ban, Zulum granted a waiver allowing operators to evacuate scrap metal stocks accumulated before the restriction at designated locations.
The concession is intended to provide relief to genuine operators while the government considers ways to regulate the trade without compromising security or exposing public infrastructure to further destruction.
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