{
  "id": 11234887,
  "title": "Scrap dealers begin 15-day nationwide strike over steel companies’ practices",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/scrap-dealers-begin-15-day-nationwide-strike-over-steel-companies",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-01T16:27:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/01/scrap-dealers-begin-15-day-nationwide-strike-over-steel-companies-practices/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Association of Scraps and Waste Dealers and Employers of Nigeria (NASWDEN) has initiated a 15-day nationwide warning strike against foreign-owned iron-smelting companies operating in Nigeria. The dispute centers around alleged price manipulation, substandard steel production, and other questionable practices. The strike began on October 1, 2026, and involves the complete halt of scrap metal supplies to the affected companies.\n\nNASWDEN Deputy National President, Amin Hassan Soja, explained that the action would be lifted if the federal government and the steel companies addressed the association's grievances. He warned that the strike could become indefinite if no resolution was reached within the 15-day notice period. Soja claimed that scrap dealers were sustaining substantial financial losses due to arbitrary price reductions by the steel companies, with some dealers losing between N3 million and N4 million per truckload.\n\nSoja also accused certain steel manufacturers of producing substandard iron rods by altering the sizes and quantities of products made from scrap metals. He alleged that some manufacturers converted 12mm iron rods into smaller sizes, causing the weight of finished products supplied to customers to be significantly lower than the quantity of scrap metal purchased from dealers. Furthermore, Soja accused the companies of manipulating weighing scales and deducting between one and five percent from the weight of scrap supplied to them under an \"extra dose\" arrangement.\n\nThe NASWDEN leader attributed some of the recent price reductions to global geopolitical events, arguing that disruptions in international trade had led to large quantities of steel-related materials being imported into Nigeria at lower prices. He also expressed concern over the establishment of dump sites by foreign companies, which he believed was driving indigenous scrap dealers out of business due to their inability to compete on price.\n\nSoja emphasized the need for the federal government's intervention, stating that the scrap industry employs millions of Nigerians, particularly youths, and should be formally integrated into the Nigerian economy. The association called for the government to formalize the sector, collaborate with NASWDEN, and provide intervention funds to scrap traders to enable indigenous Nigerians to establish similar companies to those being created by foreign investors.\n\nThe Federal Government has reportedly initiated discussions with NASWDEN through the Executive Secretary of the National Steel Council, Ambassador Abdelkader Fadi. The association had already presented its grievances in writing and awaited further action from the relevant ministry. Soja affirmed that members across the country had complied with the strike directive, with trucks conveying scrap metals parked in various locations. He assured that the industrial action was peaceful, with members refraining from any activities that could disrupt public order.",
  "summary": "The National Association of Scraps and Waste Dealers and Employers of Nigeria (NASWDEN) has commenced a 15-day nationwide warning strike over alleged price manipulation, substandard steel production and other practices by foreign-owned iron-smelting companies operating in Nigeria. The association said the strike, which began on Thursday, October 1, 2026, involved a total cut-off of scrap […]…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}