The coalition of waste management contractors in Oyo state comprising the state chapter of Refuse Contractors Association (RCA) and Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), has commended the Adebo Ogundoyin led state legislature over a directive to thoroughly investigate series of complaints regarding solid wastes management and disposals in the state.
Arising from an emergency extraordinary meeting of the Coalition in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo state on Wednesday, October 11, the State Coordinator of the coalition, Ladi Oluwarore, made this known to journalists.
The resolution of the coalition as contained in a communique released indicates that the waste managers were impressed with the move of the House while expressing unflinching support to the legislatures and other relevant authorities in the charge of the investigation.
Recall that the state assembly yesterday deliberated on a motion brought before it by Honourable Rahman Olorunpoto during its plenary sitting and was extensively argued with lawmakers calling on the House to immediately invite the Consultant, Mottanai Recycling Ltd. to the legislative chamber for questioning on the series of complaints against it.
However, the coalition noted that the investigation was long overdue as the situation in the waste management sector were far from what they appeared to be at the surface stressing that things are not well as the Consultant, who they alleged has very little knowledge of Ibadan less and main city terrain, and by extension, the state at large, continued render operators out of business.
The coalition alleged that it was for the counterproductive approach which mainly centered around making money as against service delivery in line with Governor Seyi Makinde’s ‘Clean and Green Environment’ Initiative without necessarily pushing more burden on the people that has subjected Oyo state to mismanagement of solid wastes and disposals even at presumably embarrassing locations such as major markets, roads, and medians across the capital city and state as a whole.
While urging the lawmakers to endeavor to carry out a holistic investigation with the view to helping the Makinde led government achieve its mandate on clean, hygienic, and safe environment for the state, the Coalition expressed its resolve and determination to provide all necessary information required to help the mandated House Committee on Environment and other relevant authorities profer a lasting solution to the sector.
The coalition particularly commended the Speaker, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin for his pragmatic leadership and courage to address the situation headlong while also commending Honourables Tunde Kehinde, Oluwafemi Fowokanmi, Rahman Olorunpoto, D Al-Amin and others who displayed rare gallantry over a situation that appeared as though was being run by a cabal.
Speaking further the coalition disclosed that it has held productive meeting with the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Honourable Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola and has presented recommendations that would bring about a lasting and permanent solution to the challenges bedeviling solid wastes management in the state.
The communique read: “We, the Coalition of Waste Managers in Oyo state, hereby acknowledge and appreciate the statement by the Oyo State legislature condeming the mismanagement of solid wastes management under the Consultant, Mottanai Recycling Ltd, and making a courageous, frantic, and undiluted truth, declaring that the company was indeed incapable of managing waste in Oyo State.
“Although, it worthy of mention that we have already submitted a Proposal for Sustainable Solid Waste and Environmental Management in Oyo State through the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Honourable Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola.
“We would like to recommend immediate intervention as already being championed by representatives of the people; the Oyo state house of Assembly, to resolve maintenance issues with waste dumping sites which has brought the entire waste management industry to a standstill and is likely to cause avoidable outbreak of epidemic all over the State.
“In view of this, we further advocate an urgent review of relevant laws on waste management in Oyo State by the law makers with the view to fully implement and enforce the legal provisions in guiding conduct, operations, powers, and rights of operators in the sector.
“Finally, while throwing our full weight behind the move to launch an indepth investigation into ongoing gross mismanagement and irregularities in the solid waste industry, we shall be glad to honor an invitation by the Oyo State Legislature, as major field operators, to present our current challenges and help its investigations with the aim of providing a permanent solution to the embarrassing situation in our hands as a state.”
