By Faridat Salifu
The National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria (NASWDEN) says it is working to create five million new jobs in the scrap and waste value chain by the end of 2025 as part of its mandate to formalise and professionalise the sector.
This was disclosed recently by Alhaji Suleiman Lateef, Founding Chairman and Chairman of NASWDEN’s Board of Trustees (BOT), during the inauguration of a new Caretaker Committee in Abuja.
According to Lateef, the association has already facilitated more than 10 million jobs and aims to reach 15 million total placements by year-end through its structured membership and sector-wide coordination.
He said NASWDEN continues to build capacity among its members, educating them on their roles as legitimate employers of labour and actors in Nigeria’s waste management ecosystem.
He also reaffirmed NASWDEN’s zero tolerance for vandalism, noting that the association operates an active disciplinary mechanism to expel or sanction members found violating the law.
The newly inaugurated Caretaker Committee will guide the association toward its upcoming delegate conference and ensure institutional continuity and compliance with its founding constitution.
Deputy BOT Chairman Edward Ella reinforced the association’s stance against criminal activity, stressing that NASWDEN members are formal dealers in metal and non-metal scrap—not vandals.
He added that NASWDEN plays a vital supply role to industries involved in recycling iron rods and steel, providing inputs to support Nigeria’s domestic manufacturing capacity.
Stephen Obayuwana, secretary to the association’s founding fathers, acknowledged the support of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in maintaining sectoral stability and recognising NASWDEN as a national stakeholder.
In his remarks, Caretaker Committee Chairman Uko Iwaudofia pledged to strengthen internal controls, check vandalism, and further legitimise the business of scrap and waste recovery in Nigeria.
He described the sector as a multi-billion-naira industry powering industrial demand in cities like Lagos, Kano, and Ikorodu, where rolling mills depend on steady scrap metal supplies.
NASWDEN has emerged as a national voice for informal-sector employers in the waste economy and continues to engage with government on regulatory reform and inclusive policy design.
The association says its advocacy will focus on supporting green job creation, expanding access to formal recognition for workers, and integrating the sector into Nigeria’s industrial and environmental policy frameworks.
