The Kano State Government has announced an immediate ban on the importation of scrap materials from Nigeria’s Northeastern region, following a tragic explosion that claimed the lives of 15 workers at a scrap site in Gidan Karfe, along the Eastern Bypass in Kano.
The decision was made public by the Commissioner for Internal Security, Ibrahim Umaru, during a crucial meeting with the Scrap Dealers Association of Nigeria held in Kano on Tuesday.
According to Commissioner Umaru, preliminary investigations traced the explosion to explosive devices that were unknowingly transported alongside scrap metals from the insurgency-ravaged Northeast, a region grappling with the lingering Boko Haram crisis.
“It has become necessary for the state government to take this decisive step to prevent further loss of lives,” Umaru stated. “The Northeast has faced persistent insurgent attacks, and scrap materials from the area pose unforeseen dangers to other parts of the country.”
He added that the state government would collaborate with security agencies to closely monitor the movement of scrap materials, ensuring public safety and averting future tragedies.
Responding to the government’s swift action, the Chairman of the Scrap Dealers Association in Northern Nigeria, Aminu Hassan, expressed the association’s full support for the measure. He appealed to the government to initiate safety training programs for dealers to help identify and avoid transporting hazardous materials.
“We urge the government to organize capacity-building workshops for our members,” Hassan said. “Our association has already issued a standing order prohibiting the importation of scrap from areas affected by insurgency.”
The devastating blast at Gidan Karfe sent shockwaves throughout Kano city, leaving eyewitnesses in disbelief at the level of destruction. Authorities have since launched a thorough investigation to determine the exact origin and nature of the explosive materials involved.
