By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) has urged the Oyo State government to allocate more funds to the waste and environmental sector.
The AWAMN President, Dr. David Oriyomi said this during the inauguration of the Oyo State Chapter.
He also expressed displeasure over the increase in exchange rate which is currently affecting their services.
Stating that the industry was capital intensive, and highly sensitive to foreign exchange rates, the president noted that members were using naira to fund dollar-related costs, making it not a business for the faint-hearted.
He urged members to be mindful of the challenges before them as they were not in it alone, just as he asks them to show more than passing interest in government policies, especially those relating to the environment.
The president said they were pleased that in their pursuit of a national spread, they have the Oyo State Chapter as their latest addition, stating that they are currently in discussion with Kano, Imo, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States to mention as potential Chapters to further enlarge their State Chapters, comprising Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and now Oyo State.
Earlier speaking, Chairman of the chapter, Mr. Babatunde Mosuro, called on waste contractors in the state still skeptical of the motive and intension of AWAMN, to join and avail them their capacity, expertise, networks, ideas and resources.