By Shafi’u Yahaya
The Chairman of the National Scrap Waste Dealers Association of Nigeria (NASWADEN), Kano State Task Force Committee, Alhaji Zakari Mansur, has said the association will commence a nationwide strike on Thursday, October 1, 2026, over alleged exploitation and unfair treatment of its members by some foreign business operators.
Mansur disclosed this while briefing a group of journalists during a meeting with the Kano State wing of the association.
According to him, NASWADEN members across the country would embark on the strike to draw attention to what the association described as persistent challenges affecting scrap-metal dealers and other members of the sector.
He alleged that some foreign nationals, particularly Chinese and Indian business operators based mainly in southern parts of the country, were exploiting and subjecting Nigerian scrap dealers to what he described as unfair business practices.
Mansur gave an example of a situation where a dealer could send a truckload of scrap worth about N30 million to the southern part of the country, expecting a profit of about N300,000 after transportation and other expenses.
He alleged that some buyers subsequently reduce the assessed value of the scrap, leaving the dealers with little or no profit after the transaction.
According to him, the association considers such practices harmful to the livelihoods of its members and believes they require urgent intervention by relevant authorities.
Mansur also raised concerns about the economic implications of the scrap-metal trade, alleging that some foreign operators transfer substantial funds from Nigeria to their home countries.
He called on the Kano State Government, led by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, and wealthy businessmen in the state to consider investing in steel manufacturing and related industries.
He said such investments could create employment opportunities for young people and strengthen the local economy by developing the scrap-metal value chain within Nigeria.
“We are the highest youth-employing body among the trades,” Mansur said, while urging governments and private investors to recognise the economic importance of the sector.
He said the association had presented its concerns to governors in Northern Nigeria and called for a meeting between the governors and major businessmen to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing scrap dealers.
Mansur said the association was seeking a solution that would protect the interests of its members, create more employment opportunities and promote the development of local industries.
The NASWADEN Kano Task Force Chairman said the association’s position was also supported by its National President, Alhaji Fatai Adisa Ogunwale.
