Akure, Sept. 5 – The Chairman of the Ondo State Waste Management Authority, Mrs. Olayinka Alabi, has disclosed that the state government is in the process of procuring new waste evacuation trucks to strengthen refuse collection across the 18 local government areas.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Roving Reporters in Akure on Thursday, Alabi explained that the move was part of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s directive to expand the state’s capacity in managing public waste.
“His Excellency has made it clear that cleanliness is non-negotiable. The procurement of trucks is already in top gear because we can’t work without them,” she said.
“These vehicles will not just serve Akure metropolis but the entire state.”
She emphasized that government trucks would strictly handle public waste—refuse generated by “unknown sources” such as street littering—while private waste managers (PSPs) continue to function as investors covering designated residential and commercial zones.
Addressing concerns raised by the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), Ondo State chapter, about poor trucks, bad access roads, and dumpsite challenges, Alabi noted that government has consistently carried out monthly clearing and maintenance of the new official dumpsite.
“As I speak, bulldozers and payloaders are working there. We ensure the site remains functional, even though the number of trucks using it has far exceeded initial projections,” she said.
On complaints of waste spillage from moving vehicles, Alabi revealed that her office had issued official warnings to PSPs, mandating them to cover their trucks with tarpaulins.
“We are waste managers, not waste dispersers. Any operator who refuses to comply will be sanctioned,” she stressed.
The Waste Management boss also confirmed that enforcement has begun against residents who dump refuse indiscriminately on roadsides despite months of public enlightenment campaigns. More than 40 offenders were reportedly arrested during the last environmental sanitation exercise.
Looking ahead, Alabi announced that Ondo State is at an advanced stage of partnership with a private firm to convert waste into electricity under a circular economy initiative.
The Ministry of Energy, she added, has already agreed to take up generated power, paving the way for a formal agreement in the coming weeks.
“With this, we no longer see waste as just waste—it is raw material for energy and wealth creation,” Alabi concluded.
