General News
NASWDEN at 66: Ogbu Uchechukwu Urges Calm, Rejects Purported October Strike
The President of the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria (NASWDEN), Pst. Engr. Ogbu Luke Uchechukwu, has congratulated President Bola Tinubu and all Nigerians, especially members of the association, on the occasion of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
In his Independence message in Abuja, Pst. Engr. Ogbu Luke Uchechukwu said that despite the challenges confronting the country, there is still a need to appreciate God for the continuous corporate existence of Nigeria.
He said President Bola Tinubu, through his Renewed Hope Agenda, has been able to positively redirect the affairs of the country in the areas of infrastructural development, revamping of the nation’s economy, students’ loans, upgrading of primary healthcare centres, youth and women empowerment, regular payment of salaries to civil servants, agricultural development and strengthening of the nation’s security apparatus for effective protection of lives and property.
While urging Nigerians to remain hopeful as the country moves towards recovery, peace and sustainable development, Pst. Engr. Ogbu Luke Uchechukwu said the President acknowledged the challenges Nigeria had faced since independence, noting that the country had also recorded significant progress.
He also urged Nigerians to effectively support the policies and programmes of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, pointing out that the ongoing reforms require time and sustained commitment to deliver results.
Pst. Engr. Ogbu Luke Uchechukwu used the occasion to call on Nigerians to disregard the purported warning strike from October 1 to October 15, 2026, allegedly issued by some impostors. He urged all members of NASWDEN in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to remain calm and continue to supply their materials to end-user companies.
He said the leadership of the union had made moves to engage relevant government agencies and the management of all end-user companies, who promised to look into the price of scraps for necessary steps towards the commencement of steady pricing.
According to him, the attention of NASWDEN has been drawn to a mendacious and fraudulent circular in circulation, purportedly issued by Alhaji Fatai Adisa Ogunwale and Stephen Isobomuwa Obayuwana, directing all state councils, branch councils and regional councils to commence a warning strike from October 1 to October 15, 2026.
He stated that the leadership of the union had met with relevant government agencies towards addressing the current challenges confronting members of NASWDEN in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
The Association therefore wishes to state categorically and unequivocally as follows:
The said circular/directive should be disregarded in its entirety. It is misleading, malicious and illegal and did not emanate from the authentic National Secretariat of NASWDEN at Plot A21/A22, Kaita Mafaya Plaza, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The authors of the said circular are described by NASWDEN as persons masquerading under the name of the association.
According to the statement, they have been expelled and restrained by a court of competent jurisdiction in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/237/2018.
NASWDEN states that the individuals do not have the mandate, authority or locus to call for any nationwide strike, issue directives or set up any task force on behalf of NASWDEN.
To this end, the Association directed all genuine NASWDEN members, agents and suppliers in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, Abuja, to disregard any announcement or circular concerning strike action from the said non-members.
The statement explained that all members should continue with their normal legitimate businesses with production companies and recycling plants without fear.
It warned that any attempt by the alleged impostors and their so-called task force to arrest, harass or confiscate members’ trucks loaded with scrap metal, ferrous and non-ferrous, in order to enforce what NASWDEN describes as illegal directives should be resisted.
“ Affected members are directed to immediately report any such task force or persons to the nearest law enforcement agency, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), for appropriate action,” the statement stressed.
NASWDEN further stated that any directive for strike action or any other action binding on its members will only come from the authentic and recognised National President of NASWDEN.
NASWDEN
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