As structures crumble along the Lagos-Calabar coastal road’s path, scrap metal dealers are experiencing an unexpected surge in business.

In the wake of controversy surrounding the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, Minister of Works, David Umahi, initiated demolition of structures on Saturday, April 27, located within the road’s right of way.

As excavators tear down buildings, leaving owners distressed, metal dealers and their predominantly young workers are capitalizing on the situation. Truckloads of iron rods and metals are being carted away from the site.

Young laborers, like Musa, who was recently hired by a scrap dealer, earn around N4000 daily by scavenging for valuable metals amidst the rubble.

Musa’s employer has already amassed sizable profits by purchasing the salvaged iron and loading multiple trailers with the spoils. In Nigeria, recycling scrap metals is a lucrative venture due to high demand.

Former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bwari, noted that over 95% of Nigeria’s current steel production originates from scrap metals, highlighting the country’s steel sector’s underperformance.

Despite Nigeria’s vast iron ore deposits, the country imported $271.96 million worth of iron and steel in 2023, as per the United Nations COMTRADE database.

The situation is exacerbated by the stagnation of major steel plants like Ajaokuta Steel Company and Delta Steel Company, despite substantial government investments exceeding $10 billion over four decades.