Ondo resurrects N7b waste project

Three years after a waste management contract was abandoned, the Ondo State Government has revived the multi-billion-naira project, which will keep the environment healthy and turn waste to wealth.

The project, a public private partnership between the government and ZLGA Waste Management Company worth N7 billion was commissioned recently in Akure by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

Under the scheme, ZLGA will collect waste levies; manage resources conservation and also fleets and equipment that are utilised in the execution of the project. The state is the first to sign the contract in Nigeria that would improve on sanitation, boost revenue generation drive and create more employment opportunities for unemployed youths.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mrs. Abiola Bashorun, who expressed delight over the acceptance of the project, noted that the collaboration with state government would promote healthy environment in the state in line with global best practices.

“We are saddled with the responsibility of providing services that cover effective and efficient evacuation of waste, transportation, treatment and disposal of both solid and liquid waste as well as e-waste and medical waste.

“The first state to sign the contract with us is Ondo State in 2015, but the first place to flag off is Kaduna state.  We have some of the youths that came with us, we have about 6,500 Kaduna youths on board in two years and we hoping to double that here in Ondo State at least in the first tranche.”

She added that the company staff strength would be limited to the unemployed youths in the state whom the company would engage their services by training and certifying them for optimal performance.

While inaugurating the project at site of the company in Akure, the state capital, Akeredolu stressed that his administration would ensure the successful implementation of the project. He said it was a waste to wealth project, which the state would benefit from immensely. “It will create employment opportunities for our youths.It would also generate revenue for the government. The state will realise a sum of N60 million annually from this project.