The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), Ondo State chapter, has raised the alarm over major challenges crippling waste collection and disposal services across the state.
Speaking during an interactive session with the Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Tob Loko, in Akure, the association listed inadequate service trucks, poor access roads to dumpsites, the need for dumpsite expansion, and lack of access to loan facilities as urgent issues requiring government intervention.
Other members of the association also shared their challenges during the meeting, with the Commissioner assuring them of government support to strengthen their operations for improved service delivery.
The chairman of the association, Mr. W. A. Olokungboye, however congratulated the Commissioner on his appointment and praised his efforts in transforming the state’s environmental landscape.
He stressed that “nothing is waste,” noting that what is discarded by one person could serve as a resource for another.
Earlier, the Acting General Manager of the Ondo State Waste Management Authority, Mr. Olajumbu Adekunle, lauded the Commissioner’s leadership and disclosed that waste collection coverage in Akure had risen from a low of 16 zones out of 68 to 40 zones under the new administration.
In his remarks, Dr. Loko reaffirmed the Aiyedatiwa-led government’s commitment to building stronger partnerships with stakeholders in line with the OUR EASE Agenda.
He praised AWAMN members for their contributions to a cleaner, healthier, and disease-free environment while commending the Waste Management Authority for improving service delivery.
Highlighting investment opportunities in the sector, the Commissioner noted that Ondo State generates a significant volume of recyclable municipal solid waste, making it a fertile ground for both local and international investors.
He added that the government was determined to position the state as a hub for the circular economy and pledged to address the concerns raised by AWAMN members in collaboration with their leadership.
