Oluwafunbi Bello 
LAGOS, Nigeria – Scrap dealers in Lagos have declared that they are legitimate contributors to Nigeria’s production and recycling economy, not vandals, stressing that their work forms a key link in the steel manufacturing value chain.
Speaking during the Lagos Central Senatorial District Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Thursday, the Chairman of the Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers and Employers of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, Adewale Adedotun, said the association operates under strict monitoring to prevent the handling of vandalised materials.
“What we do is purely buying and selling recyclables,” Adedotun said. “The materials we supply go directly to steel rolling mills for the production of liquid steel. We are the major raw material suppliers sustaining that industry.”
He described scrap collectors and cart pushers as “resource persons” within the recycling chain, sourcing recoverable metals from households, workshops, and companies through formal requests and documented supply systems.
The event, convened by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), focused on safeguarding critical national infrastructure, amid increasing concerns about vandalism of public assets.
The Lagos State NSCDC Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, urged residents to work with security agencies by reporting suspicious activity around infrastructure such as bridges, substations, and communication installations.
“If you see someone tampering with critical assets, notify us immediately so we can respond,” he said.
Keshinro noted that the NSCDC has held ongoing engagements with scrap dealers to discourage the purchase of stolen materials and will continue profiling association members to identify and remove criminal impersonators.
He added that the Corps would intensify public awareness and media engagement to strengthen community involvement in infrastructure protection.
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Mirian Gom 
Chukwu Obinna 
