Residents lament inactivity at Oshodi transfer loading station
08 September 2022 |
4:58 am
Residents have lamented inactivity at Oshodi Transfer Loading Station (TLS), which received a massive boost seven years ago with the unveiling of a 24-metric tonnes hydro-clave medical treatment plan.
Abandoned Oshodi transfer loading station…yesterday PHOTO: GREGORY ONYEJOSE
We are recalibrating plant to smokeless technology, says LAWMA boss
Residents have lamented inactivity at Oshodi Transfer Loading Station (TLS), which received a massive boost seven years ago with the unveiling of a 24-metric tonnes hydro-clave medical treatment plan.
After its rehabilitation in 2011, the plant, located in the Oshodi area of the state, was said to be the first in West Africa and the second waste Transfer Loading Station (TLS) with 1000 metric tonnes capacity.
The Oshodi TLS was to be managed by Lagos State Waste Management Authority, (LAWMA) and expected to generate over 200 employment, directly and indirectly.
It was the second in the series of 20 proposed stations to improve waste collection efficiency in the state within 10 years. The facility derived its concept from the holistic approach to waste management and strategic plan for Lagos megacity. The strategic plan proposed a total of 20 transfer stations for Lagos State.
The TLS was conceived to reduce reliance on traditional treatment of waste through landfill. The consciousness for the premium placed on value of land, the Lagos topography, population density and traffic management makes the option compelling.
From saving energy and reducing mileage for waste collection compactors, to reducing queues and waiting time at the landfill as well as any likely wear and tear of compactors, the benefits of the transfer loading stations reflect in both economic and environmental terms.
However, residents are asking why the once cherished plant has become a shadow of its own self. They stressed that such a TLS, which serves as a midpoint for municipal solid waste collection, where waste could be temporarily stored, then transferred to larger trucks and sent in bulk to the landfill for final disposal and processing, should not be allowed to go moribund.
A resident, Muyiwa Akins said for decades, less attention has been paid to creating facilities to bridge the gap between the points of collection and disposal, hence such a crucial aspect of waste management infrastructure, should be functioning at full capacity.
According to him, collection of waste and logistics of transporting waste have often remained big issues in waste management, while a major cause of these is the capacity and condition of waste collection trucks and their inability to travel as far as the landfills such as Epe to dispose collected waste.
An Oshodi resident, Moroof Ajao lamented that if the Oshodi plant were operational, it would have enhanced waste management from the point of generation within such areas as Oshodi, Isolo, Mushin, Anthony, Mafoluku, Mile 2, Amuwo Odofin, Okota and Ilupeju.
Another resident, Afeez Bode, also lamented the waste of scarce resources on the project, stressing that government should ensure that the plant is put to use, especially considering its employment capacity.
Reacting, LAWMA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni said the plant was inactive because the concessionaire wanted to change to smokeless technology.
According to him, the smoke technology was brought in from China by a private investor. He said: “We noticed that the cost of operation was high because it is mainly electric based, whereas, the smokeless ones are 80 per cent gas and 20 per cent electric. The diesel cost is not sustainable for the one running in Oshodi to continue.
“That’s why they have closed down for now, but there are two other ones that have started at Ibeju-Lekki and at Ikorodu in Agbowa. We shut the TLs temporarily and two news ones came up.”
Odunboni stressed that the inactivity at the Oshodi plant is not affecting waste management in the state as LAWMA has the capacity to tackle medical waste and other types of waste in the metropolis.
“It’s not affecting our operation because we have the capacity. We have some Agege, Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki and one private one, currently running at Alimosho, these are currently sufficient to tackle medical waste management in the state.
“Also, we have two new ones, the one at Ikorodu, started operation on August 23,” he added.
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