Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode has described the current challenges faced in the waste management of the state as an aftermath of an astronomical population growth in the state.
The Governor who made this disclosure during the World Habitat Day held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.
Ambode recalled efforts of the previous administration on municipal waste management noting that the existing structures his administration met and current realities have revealed deficiencies, especially in terms of equipment and infrastructural gaps as they do not align with the state’s vision of a smart city.
According to him, the need for a holistic approach towards solving the challenges of waste management in the state necessitated the establishment of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI).
The Governor who described the CLI as a laudable concept, he nonetheless admitted that in the process of implementation, some constraints had been identified, which required periodic review.
According to him for waste management framework to be effective, there is the need for comprehensive technological development, environmental education and awareness programmes for the populace. He revealed that his administration through the Ministry of the Environment (MoE), is fully engaged in organising awareness campaigns aimed at sensitising school children, youth organisations, NGOs, community town hall meetings and public advocacy regarding the importance of proper solid waste management.
In his words:
“In our endeavour to protect the environment, we are promoting drastic behavioural changes at the individual level as well as collective and institutional levels”
The battle between PSP and Visionscape
Recall that trouble started between the Private Sector Participant PSP operators and the Lagos State Government when the government suspended their operations in the state and engaged the services of Visionscape Sanitation Solution to manage the waste management in the state.
This, however, drew condemnation by stakeholders and residents in the state. The Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators went to court in January last year to challenge the government’s action. The court ordered that parties should explore an alternative dispute settlement but sadly this has stalled as both sides have refused to budge.
Recently Visionscape Sanitation Solution announced plans to shut down operations citing heightening political tension in the state and reported cases of attack on its employees, destruction of its operational vehicles and equipment.
The Visionscape Sanitation Solution was a catastrophe. The bizarre plan was to litter Lagos with plastic bins left uncleared for weeks. The previous PSP was working and made Lagos cleaner, at least, from refuse pill up mess.
But, Akinwunmi Ambode thought wrongly, otherwise. The VSS was a nuisance from every perceptive of activity. If that was part of the sins of the governor’s fall and 2nd term rejection by APC, it was a clear message that ” you cannot fool all of the people, all of the time”, let him bit the dust, who cares!