By Fatima Saka
The Oyo State Government has introduced a new zero budget initiative with an expectation of a clean environment, and a waste to wealth initiative.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun made known on Saturday in Ibadan Oyo State Capital in the meeting of efforts to maintain a clean and healthy environment in Oyo State.
Alongside with the State Government in partnership with Mottainai Recycling Limited has met with Traders and Artisans in the state, to proffer collective solutions to the waste management problems in Oyo State.
Speaking on, the Commissioner expressed that the government cannot make the state clean alone without involving all the Stakeholders, calling on them to support the Oyo State government in cleaning the state.
In his remark, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abiodun Oni, urged traders and artisans to embrace the new waste management of zero waste, zero budget initiative.
He further added that this present administration is harnessing opportunities in public and private waste management to drive sustainable city and urban circular economy.
The Commissioner further stated that the present administration means to make life bearable for residents of the state with the involvement of a consultant (Mottainai Recycling Limited) and make Oyo State clean and habitable with individual’s input.
“We have had this challenge of cleaning the city. We just thought that as we continue the process of keeping the city clean, we should engage the stakeholders as well,” Oni said.
He said the Government is strategising, such that the Traders will pay a little token to get their wastes cleared, therefore he urged them to cooperate with the consultant, in ensuring a healthy and clean environment.
He said the State government launched the Initiative, which resulted in the overhaul of the state’s solid waste management system.
“We must be able to challenge the people and communities who produce the majority of the waste to exercise greater responsibility in the disposal of their waste, while also exploring funding strategies to address the issues,” he said.
He said: “We must be aware that we are all the recipients of personal deviations and that waste generated must be disposed of through the proper waste management channels.”
The Managing Director, Mottainai Recycling, Ade Adewuyi said the new initiative allows residents of the State to pay little or nothing for waste management and it is done to create wealth.
However, he said that his firm is set to sort and buy wastes from waste creators and generators in the State.
Also, he emphasized that flooding and epidemics are caused by solid waste being dumped in various places. Therefore, it is more crucial than ever to ensure solid waste recycling.
Also,Kazeem Gbadamosi, Executive Chairman, Lagelu Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), commended the initiative, adding that the Consultant needs to work with Local Governments in the State.
He expressed that the waste management in the state ought to be a collective responsibility of all, urging residents to cooperate with the new consultant.