Oredola Adeola |
The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has approved the return of Private Sector Partnership, PSP operators in waste management. He also ordered the reinstatement of door-to-door evacuation of wastes in the state.
This was contained in a statement credited to Mr. Tunji Bello, Secretary to the State Government, while addressing PSP operators at the meeting held at LAWMA Office, Ijora on Tuesday.
According to him, the Governor has instructed that the operators should go back to their various areas of operation and restore door-to-door evacuation of waste.
Recall that the Lagos State House of Assembly, had on Thursday, Oct 18, 2018, ordered the PSP operators to resume refuse collection and disposal with immediate effect.
The Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, who gave the directive, on behalf of the 39 lawmakers during plenary, argued that Visionscape can no longer meet the yearnings of the state in the area of refuse collection.
Mr. Bello, therefore stated the Lagos State Government as part of measure put in place to achieve a cleaner and healthier environment, the government has constituted a committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government, to thoroughly review the situation and design template for the restoration of the services of PSP operators.
He said, “This move is to reassure you that we are set on a new beginning and it is to consolidate what we have achieved. Everybody must work together to restore the glory of Lagos.”
The SSG further disclosed that Mr. Ola Oresanya, former General Manager of LAWMA, has appointed as consultant to work with the State to fashion out a format for the restoration of door-to-door waste collection.
Oresanya who was sacked by the Governor, is now expected to assist the Government in directing activities of the PSP operators to quickly cart-away heap of refuse that had continuously dot Lagos landscape.
The recall of Oresanya by the state government, according to investigation by the Editorials, is because of his outstanding successes enjoyed in waste collection in Lagos till 2015.
The SSG however urged the PSP operators to be ready for work and set aside any misgivings, adding that he was in constant touch with the leadership of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAM) who had assured him of their cooperation.
Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti Commissioner for the Environment, who had earlier been summoned by the Legislators on the need to reinstate the PSP operators, during the meeting with the operators in Ijora office, urged all stakeholders to recognise the urgent need to clear the backlog of waste in the metropolis, while a holistic solution was being worked out simultaneously.
He said, “Being aware that PSP operators were in business to make profit and sustain employment, government therefore enjoins residents to pay for waste collection by the PSP operators."
Mr. Oladipo Egbeyemi, Chairman of AWAM, in his remark, requested for thorough situation review and provision of enabling environment for unhindered performance by his members. However commended the state government for its cooperation and restatement of the operators.
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