LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has directed the State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to hands off billing issues and ensure that full payment of waste bills by residents are henceforth remitted to the coffers of Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators in the state being part of part of waste management reform promised by his administration.
Chairman of LAWMA, Olumuyiwa Adejokun and General Manager of LAWMA, Mr. Segun Adeniji, disclosed these on Thursday at the opening session of a three-day training workshop for officials of the agency, held at Lekki, in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.
This is just as the agency disclosed that waste generation within the state has increased to over 420, 000 monthly, representing 14, 000 metric tons daily.
The theme of the workshop is: “Reformed waste management in Lagos State: The role of LAWMA.”
According to Adejokun, the governor’s directive was part of the planned reform to make the agency more efficient and effective as the government lacked huge fund to manage waste in the state.
“Government does not have the huge funds required to manage waste in the state, this is why the governor has decided to embark on waste management reform,” he said.
“The state government does not have the fund to operate waste management. I can tell you that it costs huge millions to manage waste in Lagos. And that was why we have thrown the business open to investors whom we believe will help in managing waste in Lagos State.
“It is better for LAWMA to step aside in the bill issuance and concentrate on regulation of the PSP operators in the state. By doing this, they will be able to sanction any operator that fails in its duties.
“Aside regulating, LAWMA will provide backup for the operators. With this, the Agency will have the opportunity to assist operators where they are lacking in their duties,” the chairman added.
Speaking on the current arrangement the state government was trying to change, Adejokun said, “Presently, LAWMA issues bill to commercial outfits when waste are collected, and when the bills are paid, LAWMA keeps 40 per cent of the payment, and the PSP operators keep 60 per cent.”
He, however, said that the recent directive had changed that, pointing out that 100 per cent of the fund should go to the PSP operators.
“But recently, the governor had directed that 100 per cent of the fund should go to the PSP operators,” he added that the aim behind the directive was to exclude LAWMA from waste collection to enable the Agency concentrate on regulatory role of waste collection in the state.
He contended that the reform would not incapacitate the agency rather it would improve LAWMA’s status and function in the state.
Adejokun further disclosed that the planned reform of the agency would probably be accelerated with the early passage of the Waste Management Bill, which is currently on the floor of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Earlier, Adeniji said the total amount of waste generated, represented what the LAWMA collected but noted that there were several others that were not collected.
“We collect 14, 000 metric tonnes of waste daily before the festive period, but during the last Yuletide celebration, it increased to 35, 000 metric tonnes daily.”
He lamented that it was strenuous collecting waste in the state, arguing that the increase was due to population explosion.