The Ogun State Government has ruled out bringing back the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, saying it will instead invest in equipment and strengthen waste management operations across the state.
Governor Dapo Abiodun stated this while commissioning new waste management equipment, operational vehicles and an office building in Abeokuta.
The event marked the first six months in office of the Special Adviser and Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, OGWAMA, Farouk Akintunde.
Represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ola Oresanya, the governor said Ogun had moved away from the practice of shutting down commercial and social activities for several hours each month in the name of environmental sanitation.
Abiodun said the state had spent the past six years promoting daily sanitation, making a designated monthly exercise unnecessary.
He said, “Already, our people are used to daily sanitation, so instead of reintroducing the monthly environmental exercise, we have decided to buy more compactors and other waste management equipment for OGWAMA.”
According to the governor, the additional equipment will enable OGWAMA to improve daily waste collection and disposal from households, businesses and industrial facilities in collaboration with accredited Private Sector Participants, PSPs.
He added that the government would soon receive the new compactors and other equipment as part of efforts to strengthen the authority.
Abiodun said the move was aimed at avoiding the shortcomings associated with the former monthly sanitation system, particularly delays in evacuating waste after the exercise.
He said, “The state government will soon take delivery of these compactors and other waste equipment to further strengthen OGWAMA, thereby affirming the state government’s determination not to go back to the old ways.”
The governor commended residents, Community Development Associations, owners of commercial outlets and industrialists for supporting government efforts to maintain a cleaner environment.
He also assured residents that his administration would continue to provide the Ministry of Environment and agencies such as the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, OGEPA, and OGWAMA with the resources and equipment required to improve their operations.
Abiodun further praised OGWAMA’s Managing Director, Farouk Akintunde, for his performance during his first six months in office despite what he described as limited resources.
He expressed confidence that the provision of additional waste management equipment would enable the authority to expand its operations and further improve sanitation across Ogun State.
