Scrap dealers in Lagos have described themselves as resource persons in the production value chain, rather than vandals.
The Chairman of the Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers and Employers of Nigeria, Lagos State, Mr. Adewale Adedotun, made this known in Lagos on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
He spoke during the Lagos Central Senatorial District continuous stakeholders’ engagement on the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure in the state.
The meeting was organised by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to promote the protection of national and critical assets in Lagos State.
Adedotun explained that the association, as a body, monitored, regulated, and supervised the activities of scrap dealing within the state
“What we do purely is buy and sells recyclables, what we buy and sells is raw materials, serves as scrap materials for the Steel rolling mills for the reproduction of liquid steel.
“We are the major suppliers of raw materials used for the production of steel,” he said.
Adedotun said that scraps cart pushers were resource persons in the value chain or distribution chain.
He said that there were two ways they acquired the recyclables, first is giving your money to the scrap cart pushers to source for all recyclable items and in return they bring it to you.
He said the second way to acquire all these recyclables was to write a letter to multi national companies to source recyclables from them.
Earlier, Mr. Adedotun Keshinro, Lagos State Commander, NSCDC, had implored people to continue to support NSCDC in the protection of critical assets because it serves all of us.
Keshinro said: “We want them to support us by making sure that they keep eye on the infrastructure so that if you see anyone tampering with critical infrastructure, they should let us know so that we can apprehends such vandals.
“We have had series of engagement with all the units of scrap dealers in Lagos to let them know that they should not purchase any products that’s suspected to be vandalised products.
“We have been receiving their cooperation in this direction, and we are going to profile the members of the association in order to screen out criminals using the name of the association to perpetrate crime,” he said.
He noted that this was the second stakeholders’ meeting aimed at focusing directly on the community, and that the meeting was having an impact due to contributions from participants.
He explained that the meeting was part of an enlightenment effort, adding that the NSCDC would take further steps to educate citizens.
He also urged the media to participate in the enlightenment process, emphasizing that it was part of their civic responsibilities.
By Abiodun Abegunde