|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
In recent times, the streets of Lagos have been inundated with refuse that were not only eye-sores and a great drawback to the mega city positioning of Lagos by the State government. It has also become a cause of concern for the health and wellbeing of residents. The resurgence of refuse, a problem which had been solved by previous administrations is perhaps the greatest black spot in the Ambode administration.
This is more irksome given that residents were made to behold the ugly sights not long after the introduction of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative with the attendant increase in waste management fees as enunciated in the Public Utility Levy.
Many reasons, depending on which side of the divide the speaker is on, have been adduced for the resurgence of waste on the streets. There are those who believe that the new arrangement is not working. On this side are the erstwhile Private Sector Partnership, Popularly known as PSP Operators now rechristened the Waste Collection Operators (WCOs) who claimed to be at the losing end of the deal in the new waste dispensation. They seem to have an ally in the people, who despite having to pay more for waste disposal found to their chagrin that they are made to endure the unpleasant sight of refuse on the streets.
On the other side, we have the government which initiated the Cleaner Lagos initiative ostensibly, “to address some lapses in the state’s waste management structure and operations and to proactively address the waste disposal needs of a growing mega-city, as said by the Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. This is necessary because, “Lagos with its rapid urbanisation, huge and massive infrastructural development and good governance, is a victim of its own success. The population of the state, which is estimated at around 22million-and is still growing, continues to receive boosts from ceaseless migration from the hinterland and the West African suburbs. As the country’s commercial hub, Lagos houses about 2,000 Industrial complexes, 15,000 commercial ventures and a bourgeoning middle class with high purchasing power, the governor explained”. Expectedly, Visionscape, the company engaged by the state to manage refuse collection and disposal, align with the government view and assures Lagos residents that it has the capacity and capability to address this challenge, hence its engagement as the driver of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative.
And trust Nigerians, Lagos residents especially, a lot has been said on this from the two standpoints!
However, a dispassionate look at the arguments from both sides and an analysis of the situation on ground reveals that while there are merits in each of the arguments, those with the benefit of hindsight will attest to the fact that the blame cannot be heaped on Visionscape which the governor’s political enemies and, of course, opponents of the state’s new initiative have chanced upon.
Many may not know that the rationale of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative was to extend and expand the foundation by injecting private sector funds to rapidly close Lagos’s acute infrastructure gaps. The yawning gaps were implicated in the Lassa fever outbreak of January 2016 and the recent Olusosun landfill fire outbreak. This, and the diminished fleet available to LAWMA led to the administration’s decision to appoint an inter-ministerial committee to evaluate the situation and map out viable long-term solutions. The findings of the committee revealed that substantial targeted investment in the environment was required to improve health, tourism and economic outcomes.
The report of the committee and the huge investment needed to operationalise an effective waste management system informed the state’s decision to bring Visionscape, a global group of environmental companies on board.
For example, a city like New York has 58 transfer loading stations to ease collection and reduce distances while Lagos State has three. Lagos needs at least 20.
The public need be informed also, that before the kick-off by Visionscape, the contract agreement with the state indicated that the project execution will last a duration of 18 months. However, the circumstances that emerged following the strike action embarked by PSP Operators over their disagreement with the state, compelled the latter to draft Visionscape to the scene for emergency efforts.
Unfortunately, rather than appreciate the remedial action of Visionscape, the company became the victim of a campaign of calumny from the PSP operators and those looking for ways to score cheap political points on the one hand and the unsuspecting public whose desire is the legitimate quest for a clean environment.
Now that an agreement has been reached and the PSP Operators now have the responsibility for residential and commercial waste collection, residents now know who to hold responsible should the filth persists.
With this development, Visionscape is now free from the encumbrance of refuse collection to face the critical business of providing the infrastructure and bring in the huge investment needed to fast-track the transformation of the refuse management in Lagos.
It should however be emphasised that the responsibility for a cleaner Lagos is a collective one. From the state government, to LAWMA, Visionscape, PSP operators, businesses and residents; all should see themselves as stakeholders in making the environment clean and healthy.
Indeed, for Lagos to become a successful global city, its people must take responsibility for their own clean environment. Rubbish must be bagged, and bins must be used properly. Fly-tipping and stealing bins are unacceptable because they harm others.
Only by changing behaviour and working together can Lagos take its place amongst the great cities of the world.
Ayo Ajayi
Ajayi is a Lagos-based public policy analyst.
