Kaduna – Safety Awareness and Environmental Support Initiative (SAESI), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has decried the vandalism of the Kaduna Metal Recycling Plant, owned by the Federal Government.
The Controller General of SAESI, Yahaya Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Wednesday that vandals had been cannibalizing facilities at the abandoned plant located in Kudendan Industrial Area of Kaduna.
According to him, a recent visit to the plant indicated that vandals had looted metals, doors and hand pumps installed at the facility.
He said the ugly trend was sabotaging the Federal Government’s efforts toward completing the plant for full operation.
Mohammed noted that the plant, when completed, would provide employment for residents, and help develop the community.
“Once the recycling plant is completed, industries in the state would no longer require importation of raw materials.
“The plant will also create job opportunities for the teeming youths in the state and the country at large“.
He explained that the recycling plant was established to stop indiscriminate dumping of metal waste and abandonment of unserviceable vehicles on roadsides.
“The facility is meant to be a source of revenue for the country, while getting rid of scrap metals from our streets.
“The Federal Ministry of Environment has mandated us to assist in monitoring the facility against vandals. We will do our best to ensure the facility is secured, “he said.
NAN recalls that the Federal Government had in 2009 commenced the construction of the plant and reached about 70 per cent completion in 2011 before it was abandoned.
The objective was to recycle metal waste for commercial purposes.(NAN)
