Following the sack of West Africa ENRG, a private waste management firm, Oyo state government said it has started renting trucks in the short run with more capacity to pick more waste.
Over weeks, residents have expressed worry over the next line of action by the government after revoking the contract with West Africa ENRG, owing to “material breach of the agreement” as waste and heaps litter the state. The company has denied the allegation.
In a note titled, “THE IBADAN WASTE ARMADA,” posted on his social media account on November 16, 2019, the Oyo state commissioner of environment and water resources, Hon. Kehinde Ayoola said the government is talking with interested investors on issues like a waste to electricity and waste to biogas on Public-Private Partnership basis and pleaded for more citizens’ cooperation and understanding.
He said after West African ENRG left, the state government found out “that OYOWMA’s assets are in a sorry state of dilapidation and depletion.
“For instance, only 3 small Canter trucks were still serviceable and even then, we had to remove batteries from our cars to start them! We had to rent trucks.”
“Dumpsites have not been accessible to trucks since the past 3 days bcos the last contractor never carried out regular maintenance of the dumpsites despite being a condition in their contract.
“As pointed out above, as at the time they left, OYOWMA had only 3 small Canter trucks that cannot pick 10 tons of waste at a go whereas about 64 compactors are lying waste and cannibalised at the OYOWMA yard at Agodi Gate. You can go there and check Pls.”
On what the present government is doing on waste management in the state, Hon. Ayoola said the government will be renting trucks as more truck means more capacity to pick heaps and refuse from the roads.
In the short tun, “We are renting trucks. More trucks (preferably 20-tonners that can tip) means more capacity to pick more waste. If anyone has 20-ton tippers, please send them to me. We are picking day and night.
“We are campaigning that people should not put trash on the road. Trucks will move at designated times of the day and they can empty their trash in them.
“We are doing palliative repairs to the dumpsites.”
The commissioner said on the run, the Makinde-led government will licence more contractors on the community waste management system.
He also explained that the state government will construct 2 new Sanitary Landfills to complement the 4 dumpsites at Ajakanga, Aba Eku, Lápitẹ́, and Àwọ́tán.
“We are establishing 5 new Transfer Loading Stations where wastes will be sorted and the recyclable components shall be moved to recycling plants,” he said.
