ZULUM: SCRAP METAL SCAVENGERS STOLE N3BN ELECTRICITY WIRES LINKING MAIDUGURI, DAMATURU
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By: Fasasi Hammad
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has revealed that metal scavengers looted all the wires purchased for a N3 billion electricity distribution project linking Damaturu in Yobe State to Maiduguri.
He said the incident, alongside other security concerns, informed the state government’s decision to ban the scrap metal trade across Borno State.
The governor’s Senior Technical Assistant on Print and Digital Communications, Abdulrahman Bundi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying Zulum made the remarks while addressing business operators in Maiduguri on Saturday.
Zulum explained that the ban was introduced in the overall interest of the state and was not intended to deprive operators of their means of livelihood.
He stressed that the government had no personal interest in shutting down their businesses, adding that the restriction was aimed at protecting public infrastructure and addressing security threats.
The governor said the activities of metal scavengers had exposed many people to danger, particularly in communities where security conditions remained unsafe for civilian operations.
“Before the ban, hundreds of your members were killed in the process of scavenging for metals in the villages that are not yet safe for civilian activities,” he said.
Zulum added that he was concerned about the impact of the restriction on legitimate business operators but maintained that security considerations remained paramount.
“It is deeply concerning to me if one person loses his livelihood for whatever reason in Borno; believe me, there is nothing I stand to gain from banning scrap metal trade rather than addressing the serious security concerns associated with your activities,” he stated.
The governor disclosed that the state had spent more than N3 billion on the electricity distribution line from Damaturu to Maiduguri, only for all the wires to be stolen through metal scavenging activities.
“We spent more than N3 billion to connect an electricity distribution line from Damaturu to Maiduguri, but unfortunately we lost all the wires to the metal scavenging activities,” Zulum said.
He further revealed that security agencies had intelligence suggesting that insurgents were working with scavengers to sell stolen metals.
“We have security intelligence that even the insurgents use your platforms to sell looted metals. So, no responsible government will ignore such intelligence just to be politically correct,” he added.
According to Bundi, the governor has granted a waiver allowing operators to evacuate stocks accumulated before the ban from designated locations, in a move intended to reduce the impact of the restriction on legitimate businesses.
Zulum also urged the operators to submit proposals outlining how they could continue their businesses without contributing to insecurity or damaging public infrastructure.
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