By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved a 2023 budgetary plan to help Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators recapitalise by injecting new waste evacuation trucks into their fleet.
This was disclosed by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ibrahim Odumboni, yesterday, saying recyclers would also be empowered to procure necessary tools for their projects.
He said the recapitalisation was aimed at improving waste management in Lagos State to make the environment cleaner and liveable for residents, to cope with about 13,000 metric tonnes of waste generated daily.
The recapitalisation, he said, would help to address most of the challenges facing PSP operators, including the high cost of new waste evacuation trucks, which many of the PSP operators could not afford to replace their ageing fleet.
“The Lagos State government’s plan is to provide the PSP operators with low-interest loans to purchase new trucks. The government will also provide technical assistance to the PSP operators to manage their fleet more efficiently.
“It will also stimulate economic growth by providing opportunities for small businesses to thrive. By providing the PSP operators with low-interest loans, we are giving them the opportunity to expand their businesses and create more jobs,” he said.
Meanwhile, members of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAM) in Lagos State have launched a door-to-door campaign in support of the re-election bid of Sanwo-Olu, in a campaign, which kicked off in Ikeja, and would be held simultaneously across the state covering the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs), to sensitise residents on the need to support Sanwo-Olu’s second term bid.
AWAM President, David Oriyomi, thanked the governor for his support, stressing the current administration of Governor Sanwo-Olu had enhanced the waste management system, with the incorporation of over 400 PSP operators that provide effective waste service delivery to Lagosians, adding that the campaign by AWAMN members for the re-election of the Lagos State governor, was being replicated across zones in the state.
“We in AWAMN have 100 per cent support for the Sanwo-Olu’s administration, he stood by us and we will always stand by him,” he said.
LAWMA’s Executive Director of Finance, Kunle Adebiyi, in his remarks, said the present administration had a huge scorecard in waste management, being one of the largest employers of labour in the state, urging Lagosians to show total support.
In attendance at the event were the Chief Technical Officer of LAWMA, Olorunwa Tijani, and other AWAMN executives.