Amidst rising concern over the destruction and frequent collapse of national grids, among other public utilities, by vandals, the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers of Nigeria (NASWDEN) has solicited urgent partnership with the federal government to curb activities of vandals responsible for the criminal acts.
The call followed the reported collapse of the national grid in 2024 and the frequent vandalisation of petroleum pipelines by vandals.
The acting chairman of the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, Comrade Alhaji, Dr Sarkin Ibrahim Soja, who made this known at the weekend in Lagos, blamed terrible elements among them for trying to tarnish the union’s good image.
According to Soja, “We are concerned over numerous challenges confronting the members mainly because of those harmful elements, such as foreigners who have no interest in the country’s wellbeing. I know we are law-abiding people since I have been in this job for the past 35 years.
Nigerians need the government’s backing to bring sanity into NASWDEN, where every scrap and waste handler must belong under one umbrella for proper coordination.
In his address, the presiding chairman of Lagos State Council, Comrade Adewale Adedoyin, expressed his displeasure over some people bent on painting NASWDEN in black to the general public.
Adedoyin says, “We are becoming another large employer of labour by creating over seven million jobs. As it is now, we need a partnership with the government to help us create more awareness and let them know that NASWDEN is not meant for those under 18 years of age. As such, we are organising a data-based method to identify all our members because many foreigners are damaging our image.”
