The National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers and Employers of Nigeria (NASWDEN) has commenced a 15-day nationwide warning strike over alleged unfair pricing, manipulation of weighing scales and the production of substandard iron rods by some foreign-owned steel companies.
The association’s Deputy National President, Comrade Aminu Hassan Soja, announced the industrial action at a press conference, saying it began on October 1 and involved a total suspension of scrap metal supplies to steel companies across the country.
Soja warned that the strike could be extended indefinitely if the association failed to reach an agreement with the affected companies or the Federal Government during the 15-day warning period.
“We call on our members nationwide to embark on this warning strike for 15 days, starting from today, 1 October 2026. If we have reconciliation with the companies, we may call off the strike. But if we don’t have reconciliation, we will go indefinite,” he said.
Soja alleged that some foreign-owned iron-smelting companies had repeatedly reduced the prices paid for scrap metal, resulting in losses of between N3 million and N4 million on a single truckload.
He said the companies had failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the frequent price reductions, which he claimed had created significant financial difficulties for scrap dealers.
The association also accused some companies of manipulating weighing scales, alleging that dealers who supplied one tonne, equivalent to 1,000 kilogrammes, could be paid for considerably lower weights.
Soja further alleged that some steel manufacturers were producing substandard iron rods by manipulating the sizes and quantities of materials used in production.
He claimed that rods labelled as 12mm were sometimes produced as 10mm, alleging that such practices could have implications for construction standards and building safety.
Another grievance raised by the association was what it described as “extra dose”, which Soja said involved deductions of between one and five per cent from the weight of scrap supplied to steel companies on the grounds of impurities.
He also accused some foreign-owned companies of establishing scrap collection points and dump sites in communities, alleging that the practice was forcing indigenous scrap dealers out of business.
According to Soja, the association had repeatedly taken its complaints to relevant government departments and ministries but had yet to secure a lasting resolution.
“This is not just about us. These foreign companies are taking away our jobs. They are sending a lot of youths out of jobs,” he said.
Soja described the scrap industry as a major source of employment, particularly for young Nigerians, and called on the government to intervene to protect indigenous operators.
He said the association had already been invited by the Federal Government through the Executive Secretary of the National Steel Council, Ambassador Abdelkader Fadi, who listened to its grievances and received written complaints from the dealers.
According to Soja, Fadi assured the association that the complaints would be presented to the relevant minister, with the dealers now awaiting the government’s response.
The NASWDEN deputy national president said members across the country had complied with the strike directive, claiming that trucks loaded with scrap metal had been parked at various locations.
He said the association was also seeking government intervention to formalise the informal scrap industry and provide financial support to enable indigenous operators to establish and expand their own businesses.
“We want the Federal Government to come in and formalise it. To collaborate with us, give lots of scrap traders intervention funds, so that indigenous people can also establish the kind of companies these foreigners are establishing,” he said.
Soja appealed to the government to intervene before the dispute escalated, saying the association’s demands were aimed at protecting jobs and increasing the participation of indigenous businesses in Nigeria’s steel and recycling industries.
