The Ogun State Government has expressed plans to strengthen daily waste collection and disposal through increased investment in equipment for the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, instead of reintroducing the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Governor Dapo Abiodun stated this in Abeokuta while inaugurating waste management equipment, operational vehicles and an office block to mark his Special Adviser and Managing Director of OGWAMA, Farouk Akintunde’s first six months in office.
Governor Abiodun, represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the state had moved beyond the monthly sanitation model, arguing that residents had become accustomed to maintaining a clean environment daily.
The governor maintained that the government had chosen to channel resources into strengthening OGWAMA’s operational capacity rather than revive the monthly exercise.
“Already, our people are used to daily sanitation. So, instead of re-introducing monthly environmental exercise, we have decided to buy more compactors and other waste management equipment for OGWAMA to daily collect and properly dispose of waste generated by households, commercial outlets and industrial facilities in conjunction with accredited PSP operators across the state,” Abiodun said.
The governor added that the government would soon take delivery of additional compactors and other waste management equipment to further improve the authority’s operations.
He said the move was also aimed at avoiding the challenges associated with the former monthly sanitation system, particularly delays in waste collection and disposal after the exercise.
While commending residents, Community Development Associations, owners of commercial outlets and captains of industry for their cooperation with the government in keeping the state clean, governor Abiodun assured them that his administration would continue to equip the Ministry of Environment and its agencies, to improve environmental services across the state.
