Edo State Moves to Secure Critical Infrastructure Through Formalized Scrap Metal Sector
Benin, Dec. 19, 2025 – In a decisive move to combat the rampant theft of public assets, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Edo State has unveiled a comprehensive plan to formally regulate all scrap metal dealers starting in 2026. This initiative marks a strategic shift from reactive enforcement to a proactive, governance-based approach aimed at dismantling the illicit economy fueling infrastructure vandalism.
State Commandant Mr. Saidi Akintayo, represented by Deputy Commandant Bola Morantiola, announced the policy during a landmark stakeholders’ meeting in Benin. The gathering, which included major associations like the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria and the Edo Arewa Scrap and Waste Dealers Association, signals a critical juncture for the state’s security and economic landscape.
The Nexus Between Unregulated Scrap and National Insecurity
Commandant Akintayo framed the new regulations as a direct response to a severe and growing threat. “Scrap trading has been inextricably linked to the systematic vandalism of electricity installations, telecommunications facilities, rail lines, and water infrastructure,” he stated. The impact is multifaceted: economic sabotage through the destruction of government investments, social disruption from halted essential services, and direct endangerment of lives—such as when stolen transformer oil or cables lead to electrocutions or blackouts that cripple hospitals and businesses.
The NSCDC’s mandate to protect Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) provides the legal foundation for this intervention. By regulating the downstream market for stolen metals, the corps aims to choke off the financial incentive for vandals. This is a recognition that arresting individuals cutting cables is insufficient without also addressing the opaque supply chain that launders those materials into cash.
Blueprint of the 2026 Regulatory Framework
The planned framework, as detailed to stakeholders, is built on pillars of transparency, accountability, and traceability:
- Mandatory Registration & Profiling: All dealers and their operatives will be required to register with the NSCDC, moving the sector from informal shadow to a documented, lawful business.
- Scrap Source Documentation: Dealers must maintain verifiable records of where they acquire materials, creating an audit trail. This “know your supplier” rule is designed to make it legally risky to accept obviously stolen public property.
- Operational Restrictions: Specific activities, such as night-time trading which often facilitates covert movement of vandalized items, will be curtailed or heavily monitored.
- Enhanced Collaboration: The NSCDC will intensify zonal monitoring and intelligence-led operations, while deepening collaboration with other security agencies and utility companies to share data on theft patterns and suspect materials.
A Dual Strategy: Partnership Backed by Enforcement
Akintayo emphasized a dual-track strategy of sensitization and enforcement. The stakeholder meeting itself was the opening act of an awareness campaign to educate dealers on legal obligations and the severe national consequences of their trade being hijacked by criminals.
However, the message was clear: dialogue precedes, but does not preclude, force. “NSCDC remains committed to partnership, but we will not hesitate to enforce the law. Illegal scrap dealings will no longer be tolerated,” Akintayo stated. Deputy Commandant Suleman Muhammed, Head of the CNAI Department, was more blunt, warning that complicity in vandalism would lead to arrest and prosecution.
Sector Reaction and the Path Forward
The industry’s response, as voiced by Alhaji Sani Muhammed representing Arewa scrap dealers, was one of cautious cooperation, promising to relay the directives to members. This engagement is crucial; a successful regulatory regime depends on buy-in from legitimate dealers who are also victimized by the criminal elements that undercut their business and bring security scrutiny.
The ultimate objective, as stated by the Commandant, is to “encourage legitimate businesses while eliminating practices that fuel criminality.” If effectively implemented, this policy could transform the scrap metal sector in Edo from a weak link in national security into a monitored, responsible component of the circular economy. The success or failure of this 2026 initiative will serve as a critical test case for other states grappling with the devastating and costly scourge of infrastructure vandalism.
Reporting by Usman Aliyu for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Edited by Chinyere Omeire.
