Federal government Tightens Grip on Scrap Metal Trade to Curb Infrastructure Vandalism

According to The Sun Nigeria News on November 10, 2026, the Federal Government is set to introduce stricter regulations in Nigeria’s scrap metal industry to tackle the increasing theft and illegal trade of metals, particularly electricity cables, railway components and manhole covers.

The proposed regulations will require scrap metal dealers and recycling operators to obtain relevant licences, verify the sources of materials and maintain proper transaction records to prevent stolen metals from entering the recycling market.

The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement on the validation of the proposed Scrap Metal Collection, Trading, Recycling and Regulations, 2026, held in Lagos.

Audu, who was represented by the Director of the Metallurgical Raw Material Development and Investment Promotion Department, Ime Eprikpo, said the initiative was aimed at sanitising the industry, protecting critical infrastructure and strengthening local steel production.

He expressed concern that poorly regulated scrap metal activities had contributed to the vandalism of public and private infrastructure, resulting in economic losses, disruption of essential services and increased maintenance costs.

The minister, however, assured that the government would introduce the regulations without undermining the livelihoods of thousands of Nigerians involved in legitimate scrap metal collection and trading.

He explained that the proposed framework would establish a structured licensing system, regulate collection and aggregation centres, improve transaction traceability and strengthen monitoring and enforcement.

According to him, the regulations would also promote environmental protection and occupational safety while discouraging the illegal acquisition and sale of stolen metallic materials.

Audu further explained that small-scale collectors and traders would be given opportunities to formalize their businesses through requirements that reflect the size and risks of their operations. He added that larger recycling and processing facilities would be subjected to appropriate licensing and safety standards.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Nura Abba Rimi, represented by Christopher Wanje, said effective regulation of the scrap metal industry was essential to developing a competitive domestic steel sector.

He noted that the framework would help protect infrastructure, discourage illegal metal trading and ensure that recycling contributed meaningfully to national economic development.

Meanwhile, the National President of the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, Ogbu Luke Uchechukwu, described the validation exercise as a landmark development for the industry.

He said the initiative represented an important step towards building an organised, transparent and economically sustainable scrap metal sector capable of supporting Nigeria’s industrial growth.

Lilbillion feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com