By Awyetu Asabe Hope
Members of the Association of Waste Management Vendors and Recyclers of Nigeria have commended Dapo Abiodun for approving the appointment of Farouk Akintunde as the new Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Agency.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, the association’s secretary, Segun Adetula, said the vendors appreciated the governor for appointing someone with the experience and commitment needed to manage waste operations in the state.
Adetula noted that less than a month after assuming office, Akintunde had demonstrated leadership, leading to the evacuation of refuse that previously littered major streets in Ogun State.
He added that the association’s executives had met with the new MD to discuss challenges facing waste vendors and expressed satisfaction that he had begun addressing their concerns.
According to him, the appointment has strengthened the relationship between the state government and waste operators.
Adetula said the new MD had reduced the vendors’ registration fee from N25,000 to N5,000 and revoked the licences of unprofessional operators who failed to meet registration requirements, including the presentation of tax clearance certificates.
He added that improved payments to private sector participants had also boosted refuse evacuation across the state.
The association urged Akintunde to set up a task force to curb the activities of unregistered waste vendors undermining waste management efforts.
It also called for quarterly meetings with the agency to review waste management operations and strengthen collaboration with stakeholders.
