Ogun State's waste management operators commend Governor Abiodun, back OGWAMA initiatives

Governor Dapo Abiodun has been commended by the Ogun State chapter of the Association of Waste Management & Recyclers of Nigeria for his swift intervention in resolving issues between the association and the Ogun State Waste Management Authority.

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This commendation was expressed by the association's members, who operate as waste vendors and recyclers across the state, during a meeting with journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

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Pastor Olusegun Adetula, the association's Secretary, specifically highlighted the positive impact of the recent appointment of Alhaja Farouk Akintunde as Managing Director of OGWAMA on relations between the government and operators in the waste management sector.

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A recent meeting with the new OGWAMA leadership provided an opportunity for the association to discuss long-standing grievances affecting vendors and recyclers, and the new management assured members of the government's commitment to addressing their concerns.

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The association disclosed that one of the corrective measures already being implemented is the reduction of the registration fee for vendors from N25,000 to N5,000, which was the original fee before it was increased by the former administration.

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The former leadership of OGWAMA had issued operational licences to some vendors without proper documentation, including tax clearance certificates, but the new management is reviewing and revoking such licences to strengthen regulatory compliance.

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Discussions between the association and OGWAMA also addressed the issue of unregistered waste vendors operating in the state, and the agency's new leadership has pledged to establish a task force to monitor and curb these illegal operators.

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The plan to reinstate quarterly stakeholder meetings between OGWAMA and industry operators, which was previously discontinued, has been welcomed by the association as an effective way to address operational challenges.

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The renewed engagement and policy adjustments have already started yielding positive results, including improved sanitation in parts of the state and the resumption of payments to Private Sector Participation operators.

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The association has reaffirmed its support for the Ogun State Government's development agenda, “Igbega Ipinle Ogun,” and reiterated its commitment to promoting professionalism, environmental sustainability, and the welfare of registered waste vendors and recyclers in the state.