As part of efforts to achieve a cleaner and healthier Lagos with sustainable waste management, the Lagos State Government on Wednesday charged PSP operators on improved service delivery and transparency.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, declared this on Wednesday in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Wahab, who addressed a strategic meeting with the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAM), said the modes of operation of PSP operators must be digitalised and accessible.
He said: “I am aware that PSP operators are in business to make profit and sustain employment, then all cash collections must be digitalised for transparency.”
He added that the association should put in place proper data collation and enumeration of all commercial and private facilities being serviced as this process would increase accountability and allow operators to carry out their responsibilities seamlessly and efficiently.
Wahab said the government is aware that PSP operators need some interventions and subsidies, adding that they must be open and broadly expatiate revenue generation and expenditures.
He said: “I am aware that the economy is tough right now and we must support you to succeed, but I want a detailed enumeration of all the houses and digitalise the number of household facilities across the state.”
He said the continuous increase in population with the corresponding increase in generation of waste has necessitated the need for the Lagos Waste Management Agency to assist the operators in clearing black spots, adding that several complaints were received about non-functioning assigned operators.
According to him: “I think it is high time we have to sit down and thoroughly review the whole gamut of the PSP operations.
“The fact is that we must be able to speak the truth to one another as this will continually encourage the government to complement what the operators are doing.”
Wahab added that the time has come for PSP operators to create an online portal where GPS receivers installed in their trucks provide accurate locations always, and number of trips performed by each operator daily amongst other things.
“This portal must be accessible via internet connection on a range of devices, from computers, laptops, and phones, regardless of location or socioeconomic status.”
He urged PSP operators to be ready for work and set aside any misgivings, saying if and when there was an urgent need to clear waste across the metropolis, the situation must be attended to in order not to leave room for sabotage.
He stated that residents expect an uplift in the city’s waste management system with respect to the door-to-door residential waste collection by the PSP operators.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, stated that it is important for PSP operators to embrace technology and innovation to make things work better for all, stressing that they should embrace digitalisation as this will help with better service delivery.
“This is to reassure you that the government is ready to collaborate with the association and everybody must work together for us to achieve a waste free and sustainable environment,” he said.
Gaji asked the association to put all their trucks in good condition to improve their turnaround time, adding that when residents get better services they would pay without being forced.
According to the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, there is a need for the waste managers to avail the state of its software concerning the slot each operator is allocated as that would make whatever data they give to the state more credible.
Gbadegesin said: “I appeal to all the PSP operators to provide accurate data for all households so that the government ascertain tenements who are paying as at when due, those underpaying and those not paying at all.”
Earlier, the President of AWAM, Olugbenga Adebola, expressed appreciation to the government for an enabling environment that ensures people do the needful with almost a daily visit and enforcement to the markets, which also serves as an advocacy telling everyone what should be done.
Adebola said the members are committed and are set to continually work with the government having invested billions of naira in the project, which has contributed directly and indirectly to the improvement of the economy of Lagos State.
