Stakeholders at a waste management meeting have called for attitudinal change and enforcement of existing sanitation laws to address waste management challenges in Oyo State, South West Nigeria.
The Town Hall Meeting tagged “Beautiful Ibadan City: The Waste Management Agenda”, was held in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, with key participants in attendance.
Speaking at the event, held on Friday, April 28, 2023, the Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, called for genuine collaboration between relevant government authorities and the public to tackle the menace of indiscriminate waste disposal.
He said the Oyo State Government, under Governor Seyi Makinde’s leadership, has done a lot in managing waste, noting that, before 2019, the four dumpsites in the city were poorly managed.
This, he said, gave room for communicable diseases in Awotan and other residential areas close to the dumpsites, until Makinde’s government gave the dumpsite a face-lift.
“There is a need for a change in people’s attitude towards waste disposal. We have also approached residents with the appeal, which we trust will bring changes in people’s attitudes,” he said.
Olatubosun said the Oyo State Government has laws on sanitation that must be enforced, to bring about the needed change in the state.
“Our duty bearers, enforcement agencies must see to it that the laws are respected and enforced in the state,” Olatubosun added.
Earlier in her remarks the Chairperson, Oyo State Waste Management Taskforce, Mrs. Adedayo Aderonke, noted that Waste management in Oyo State is a social enterprise.
She added that part of the ways of tackling poor waste management in the state was the government employing one Private Sector Participation, who has over the years built a waste management business, in a way the Oyo State Government appreciates.
Mrs. Adedayo noted that in pursuit of sustainable waste management, the waste management contractor, Mottainai Recycling Ltd., regulates the activities of about 121 Mottainai Accredited Franchisees, otherwise known as MAFs.
According to her “Initially the state had about 235 waste collectors, some of them were not paying into the coffers of the government, and they did not have the capacity either. This contributed largely to the poor management of waste in the state,” she said.
The keynote speaker at the event, Dr. Abdulwasiu Ajagbe, appealed to residents of the state to join hands together in putting an end to solid waste problems.
Other speakers at the event applauded the present administration’s responsiveness to all issues, especially those related to the safety of lives and property.
Some noted that the state government, through Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), has been involved in the dredging of rivers, streams, and waterways to enhance the free flow of water during downpours.
Others encouraged residents to look into upcycling, recycling, and reuse of products, which will reduce the frequent disposal of household items.
By Dare Akogun
