The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) has called for an enabling environment to enable its members to deliver efficient and effective waste management in the state.

President of AWAMN, Olugbenga Adebola, gave the charge during a chat in Lagos.

Adebola said that effective and efficient waste management requires the commitment and collaboration of government and the Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators, adding that the duo should sit down and chat a course to remove the challenges in the waste management value chain.

He, however, expressed gratitude to the Lagos State Government, through the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), for graciously committing to the provision of compactor trucks to PSPs on the lease to own model.

“We would like to thank the Lagos State government and the Managing Director of LAWMA, who has graciously announced to the whole world that they are buying compacting trucks on the lease to own for PSP operators.

“I think it is a good gesture. However, I want to say, regrettably, that this is not the only solution to effective and efficient waste management.

“Having an effective and efficient waste management system operating in Lagos State goes beyond just the purchase of trucks for the PSP owners on the lease to own.

“Around October 2023, we did a comprehensive letter to the government, identifying some of the problems militating against effective and efficient waste management in the state.

“As professionals, ours is to identify some of these problems and perhaps find solution,” Adebola said.

The AWAMN President noted that the enabling environment begins with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered into between the government and the PSPs, adding that waste managers are essential service providers, and as such, there should be special funding, either from the state or from the federal government.