The Kano State government has directed a temporary stoppage of importation of scraps and waste materials from the Northeastern states, especially those ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The order is contained in a press statement by the Director Public Relations and Enlightenment of the ministry, Muhammad Dahir Idris, a copy of which was made available to Arewa PUNCH on Thursday.

According to the statement, the commissioner for Internal Security and Special Services, AVM Ibrahim Umaru (Rtd) gave the directive on Wednesday during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Scraps and Waste Dealers, Employers of Nigeria.

Umaru said the directive was sequel to the recent bomb explosion at the warehouse  of such scrap materials along the Western Bypass  Road and the Kofar Ruwa, which resulted in the loss of lives and properties.

He urged members of the association to evolve measures aimed at preventing such occurrence and ensure that there are no explosives  in such scrap materials before they are imported into the state.

“As Kano State will continue to protect your interest and your business, you should come up with a written policy and plans that will boost your business,” the commissioner urged the association.

Earlier, the Regional President of the association, Aminu Hassan, told the commissioner that his association had already stopped buying scrapped and waste materials from such states bedevilled by the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

He assured Umaru that they would continue to be law-abiding business partners just as he stressed the need for the Kano State government to support them to improve their businesses.

Hassan remarked that their association was established under the trade union law of 2004 and is regulated by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

He maintained that most of the companies in the country depended solely on their scrap materials for production as they couldn’t buy virgin or new materials for production, adding that if their business stops, several companies will certainly collapse.

He stressed that the activities of their association had led to the  creation of more jobs among the teeming unemployed youths, as the association has over 100,000 registered members across the 44 local governments.

Hassan outlined some challenges affecting the association to include the inflow of underaged children as scavengers, even as he readily  disassociated the group from any form of involvement in the use of children as scavengers in the business.

However, he blamed the parents or guardians of such children and wards for their poor moral upbringing.

Hassan revealed that some unscrupulous members sometimes vandalised some properties and buy stolen items, adding that the association had helped the security personnel to  arrest and prosecute anybody found wanting.

Also commenting, the member Board of Trustees of the association, Akilu Hassan Sardaunan  Funtua who equally doubles as the chairman NAK, highlighted the need for collaboration with the Kano State government towards ensuring stable economic growth and development.

The Regional President assured the commissioner that his association will not relent in its efforts at guarding against the future occurrence of such incidence.