The Kaduna State House of Assembly has passed a motion to regulate the operations of metal waste vendors across the state to promote environmental sustainability, safeguard public health, and ensure compliance with waste management standards.
Presiding over the plenary session, the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Henry Danjuma, announced the passage of the motion, explaining that it seeks to align the activities of scrap metal dealers with existing environmental regulations.
Presenting the committee’s report, the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Environment and Judiciary, Barrister Mahmud Lawal Sama’ila, representing Zaria Constituency, said an in-depth review revealed that although there is an existing law guiding waste management, it does not adequately cover the activities of metal waste vendors.
He explained that the Assembly intends to amend the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA) Law, which currently focuses mainly on sanitation and hygiene, to include provisions that empower it to regulate the operations of metal waste dealers.
Barrister Sama’ila noted that unregulated scrap metal activities have had adverse socioeconomic impacts on communities, stressing that many vendors operate outside the law.
He added that the new regulation will introduce a licensing framework to sanitize the sector and eliminate criminal elements exploiting the trade for illicit activities.
According to him, the operations of some scrap metal vendors have contributed to the vandalization of both public and private infrastructure, a situation that often leads to delinquency and other criminal behavior.
The lawmaker urged security agencies, including the police, to intensify surveillance on scrap metal businesses, while also calling on citizens to provide timely information to aid efforts in curbing related crimes.
Shamsuddeen Mannir Atiku
