FG set to protect national infrastructure from vandalism

…unveils plans to regulate scrap metal sector

In a major push to revitalise the nation’s industrial capacity and curb the rampant vandalism of public utilities, the Federal Government has begun efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s scrap metal industry.

The framework is being advanced through the proposed Scrap Metal (Collection, Trading, Recycling and Regulation) Regulations, 2026.

The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, unveiled the move at a two-day stakeholders’ engagement to validate the draft regulations, held from November 9 to 10, 2026.

The event, themed “Sustainable Scrap Metal Management through Effective Metallurgical Regulation: From Policy to Real Impact,” brought together government officials, security agencies, environmental regulators, and industry operators.

Represented by the Director of Metallurgical Raw Material Development and Investment Promotion, Ime Eprikpo, the Minister emphasised that scrap metal is a vital raw material for domestic steel plants and foundry operations. However, he noted that the sector’s immense economic potential—ranging from circular production to job creation—has been undermined by poor regulation, illicit trade, and environmental hazards.

A core driver of the new regulatory framework is the alarming rate of infrastructure vandalism nationwide. The Minister expressed deep concern over the persistent theft of metallic components critical to national development, including electrical cables, railway tracks, and manhole covers.

“Such activities go beyond the loss of metallic materials, as they disrupt public services, compromise safety, increase maintenance costs, and undermine national infrastructure development,” Prince Audu stated.

To combat this, the proposed regulations mandate stricter supplier identification, source verification, and reliable transaction records. The Ministry is also intensifying collaboration with security and law enforcement agencies to trace and prosecute individuals dealing in stolen metallic assets.

Addressing concerns from small-scale traders and independent collectors, the Minister reassured stakeholders that the government’s intention is not to stifle livelihoods, but to integrate informal operators into a structured, transparent system.

“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,” the Minister assured.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi—represented by Christopher T. Wanje, Director of Metallurgical Inspectorate & Environmental Protection—echoed these sentiments.

Speaking under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, he noted that a well-regulated scrap industry is fundamental to industrialisation and economic diversification.

The initiative has received strong backing from key industry players and regulatory bodies.

The National President of the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, Comrade Pastor (Engr.) Ogbu Luke Uchechukwu, hailed the validation exercise as a landmark development, noting that it establishes a solid foundation for a structured and economically viable waste economy.

Similarly, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), represented by Deputy Director Engr. Walter Okoye, lauded the Ministry’s forward-looking intervention, emphasising the need to mitigate severe environmental and public health threats associated with unregulated scrap handling.

Speaking on behalf of manufacturing giants, Busari Olanrewaju, Business Manager for Kam Steel Integrated Company Ltd., described scrap metal as the backbone of domestic steel production. He reaffirmed Kam Steel’s commitment to collaborating with the government to train scrap collectors, adopt standardised grading procedures, and invest in advanced sorting and shredding technologies to keep scrap within the local manufacturing ecosystem.

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