The Kano State Government has announced an immediate ban on the importation of scrap materials from Nigeria’s Northeastern region following a deadly explosion that killed 15 workers at a scrap site in Gidan Karfe, located along the Eastern Bypass in Kano.
The decision was disclosed by the Kano State Commissioner for Internal Security, Ibrahim Umaru, during a meeting with the Scrap Dealers Association of Nigeria held in Kano on Tuesday.
According to Umaru, the tragic incident was linked to explosive devices that were unknowingly transported from the Northeast—a region long plagued by Boko Haram insurgency.
“It has become necessary for the state government to take this decision in order to avoid further loss of lives,” the Commissioner said. “The Northeastern states have been faced with Boko Haram insurgency for quite some time, and this has unfortunately led to some scrap dealers unsuspectingly moving explosive devices into Kano State. ”
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He stressed that the state would work closely with the relevant agencies to monitor the movement of scrap materials and ensure the safety of residents.
In response, the Chairman of the Association of Scrap Dealers in Northern Nigeria, Aminu Hassan, expressed the association’s support for the government’s action, while calling for capacity building for members to prevent similar incidents.
“We urge the state government to provide proper training to scrap dealers so that we can identify and avoid moving dangerous items,” Alhaji Hassan said. “Our association has already issued a directive to all members to stop bringing scrap materials from war-affected areas. ”
The explosion at Gidan Karfe sent shockwaves through the city, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of chaos and destruction.
Source: Channels TV
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